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Moral Panic - Child
Sexual Abuse |
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As a member of the ground-breaking
ICCL working party on child sexual abuse, Moira Woods showed unfailing
courage and inspiration in her child-centred approach when dealing with
parents who came to her in overwhelming numbers seeking help and advice. Her
common sense, pragmatism and sense of humour kept all our feet on the ground
during a very difficult time. This was at a time when health
boards throughout the country were claiming in statistical returns to the
Department of Health and in conversations with the working party members that
there were few if any reports in their areas of incest or child sexual abuse.
My brief from the Department of Health was that under no circumstances was I
to approach or report back on members of the police, military or religious
against whom complaints were being made. Implicit in that instruction was
that such allegations against fine, upstanding members of the community were
almost certainly lies. Against such a mind-set, what
chance did the abused child have? Moira Woods's dedicated
work at that time changed social policy, while her campaign to improve the
lives of women and children throughout her working life ensures her a significant
place in Irish social history. The continuing failure of the
Government to tackle the problem of the sexual abuse of children in |
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