Download receiving a large number of calls following the Prime Time

Press Release – 27th March 2007
One in Four receives a large number of calls following the Prime Time
Documentary ‘Making them Pay’.
One in Four, the national charity which supports women and men who have experienced sexual violence, again today,
call on the Minster for Education & Science, Mary Hanafin to reconsider the issue of responsibility for the care of
children in Irish day schools.
Speaking today, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Spokesperson for One in Four said:
“Following the Prime Time documentary we have been contacted by a number of parents, teachers and members of
Boards of Management who were appalled at the defensive and threatening manner in which the Department of
Education and Science is responding to victims of sexual abuse in day schools and placing the burden of responsibility
on Patrons and Boards of Management.
Each person who has contacted us is shocked by the position taken by Minister Hanafin; that it was not her Department
that sent letters to victims of sexual abuse but rather the Chief State Solicitor and that letters were not sent to victims
themselves but to their solicitors and was ‘a legal response to a legal question’. The Minister continues to hand over
responsibility to any other party.
As an organisation working with victims of sexual abuse we are unable to sit back and accept the State’s position on the
welfare of children in our schools, the continual abdication of responsibility by the Department to the Patrons and
Boards of Management is unacceptable and we encourage others to call on the Minister to enact appropriate legislation
to ensure accountability for the care and protection of children in Irish schools.”
ENDS