Helpline counsellors were up to 10 times busier than usual yesterday in the wake of the report’s publication
GUILT, ANGER, frustration, mistrust and desperation were just a few of the emotions that helpline counsellors encountered as they responded to a flood of calls from victims of sex abuse.
At the One in Four victim support group office in Dublin, receptionist Caitríona Behan said the charity had handled about 200 calls on its helpline following publication of the commission’s report. “Many of the people calling are really angry and asking how this could have happened. Some want revenge, others want counselling, but most want to tell their stories, often for the first time,” she said.
One caller said her brother had phoned her from Britain late on Thursday to tell her for the first time that he had been abused by a priest in his childhood. Some callers rang wanting to know if the priest that had abused them was alive or dead. There were also calls from the public wanting to know if they could help.
“One man rang from his car on the way to work this morning wanting to know how to volunteer or if there was anything he could do to help,” said Ms Behan.
“Some people are very sad when they phone in to the helpline and there can be long pauses, while others can be hysterical,” said Ms Behan, who directs the calls to psychotherapists or advocacy specialists depending on the needs of the caller.
One in Four is one of several organisations providing a helpline service for victims of sex abuse following publication of the report on the Catholic archdiocese of Dublin. It has trained counsellors manning the phones to offer support for victims of abuse. But it also employs specialists to provide advice on child protection and to help victims report sex abuse to the Garda and pursue civil cases.
“A lot of callers that have taken legal proceedings are telling us about their feelings of mistrust following publication of this report. They are worried things haven’t been impartial,” said Julie Brown, advocacy officer at One in Four.
Many callers hold unrealistic expectations that the report can bring a sudden conclusion to their own legal proceedings.
“People feel they’re vindicated now and wonder why they still have to fight cases,” said Ms Brown, who expects some first-time callers to make complaints. One in Four can arrange for the Garda to take statements at its offices in Dublin to relieve some of the stress for victims of sex abuse.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre helpline had received 250 calls to its helpline by 5.30pm yesterday.
“It is absolutely phenomenal as we normally get on average about 25 calls per day. Most of the these are first-time callers, many with harrowing experiences,” said Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis centre. She said most of the callers to the helpline were young men and many felt guilty because they did not report the abuse, which could have allowed perpetrators to continue abusing.
“This type of crime often creates feelings of guilt in the victim, which are, of course, completely ridiculous,” said Ms O’Malley-Dunlop.
She said some of the helpline calls were made by parents who were distraught because they had not believed their children when they reported abuse to them.
The HSE National Counselling Service and Faoiseamh, a counselling service funded by the Conference of Religious in Ireland and a number of Catholic dioceses, also reported a deluge of calls.
“We have seen a threefold increase in the number of calls since Monday when the first newspaper reports about the report were printed,” says Michael Lyons, general manager of Faoiseamh. “The vast majority of calls are from people that have never spoken about their experience of abuse before.”
Most of the helplines will operate around-the-clock services throughout the weekend, said
One in Four executive director Maeve Lewis. “It is important people know that services like this exist and when they get the right support they can live happy lives. There is hope for these people.”