# Child Abuse
This year
2023
Gardaí assist in Europol operation that freed six children from child sexual abuse
The operation, dubbed the Victim Identification Taskforce organised by Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), took place earlier this month.
Man tells trial he was tied to tree as a child and abused by former sports coach
There are five complainants in the case, all men now in their 40s and 50s.
Last year
2022
Opinion: Child Marriage - a human rights violation happening every two seconds
Carole Wickham of Plan International Ireland outlines the needless suffering of so many young girls and what can be done to prevent it.
Man gets suspended sentence for possession of child abuse material
Short pleaded guilty to possession of seven images and 14 videos of child pornography
Bill seeking to remove 'child pornography' term from Irish legislation to be debated in Seanad
Senator Eileen Flynn’s private members’ bill would replace the term with “child sexual exploitation material”.
All time
Two priests cleared after Vatican sex abuse trial
The case was the Vatican’s first criminal trial for such allegations.
330,000 children victims of church sex abuse in France, report estimates
The report said an estimated 3,000 child abusers – two-thirds of them priests – have worked in the church during the past 70 years.
German cardinal resigns over Church's 'failure' in abuse scandal
Criticising colleagues who “refuse to believe there is a shared responsibility in this respect”, Reinhard Marx said the Church is at “a dead end”.
German police shut down child abuse online platform with 400,000 members
The platform, named as “Boystown”, had existed since 2019.
Dublin man sexually abused daughter over seven year period, court hears
The victim did not realise her father was behind everything until the age of 21.
Student jailed for 16 months for accessing child abuse images 'of the most depraved nature' online
Albaraa Turkistani was sentenced today.
Kerry man jailed for repeated rape of his daughters
Justice Owens imposed 14 years imprisonment and suspended the final two years on strict conditions.
'The brother whipped him until his back was bleeding, then gave him an orange to keep quiet'
Joe McAveety was born in a mother and baby home and grew up in industrial schools which were rife with physical and sexual abuse.
'You will be believed': Woman beaten by step-mother for 10 years urges victims to report attackers
Cora Desmond has spoken about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Bridget Kenneally.
Retired doctor who abused seven boys loses appeal against conviction
The doctor was jailed for four years in February of last year.
‘Often when a child contacts us, all we hear is quiet sobs’
Sarah Hughes, a Childline volunteer, says some children are trapped in abusive homes during Covid-19.
'A breeding ground for abuse': Children at risk behind the closed doors of Covid-19
The second part of Noteworthy’s investigation into domestic abuse finds vulnerable children are losing out on supports and escape during the pandemic.
'Isolated at home with their tormentor': Childline experiences increase in calls since closure of schools
The ISPCC said home is not a happy place for all children and they do not have their regular support network in schools anymore.
'It was now or never': Abuse survivor on why he spoke out on RTÉ programme in 2009
Michael O’Brien created one of the most powerful moments in Irish television, when he passionately told his story on RTÉ in 2009.
Opinion: 'States of Fear' may have caused a seismic shift in Ireland, but more needs to be done
As RTÉ examines the legacy of States of Fear, 21 years on, Sheila Ahern discusses the landmark documentary and the late Mary Raftery, its producer.
Police in Manchester apologise to children abused 'in plain sight' by grooming gangs
Greater Manchester Police’s re-launched investigation has identified 53 potential victims.
Internal Tusla documents reveal staff complained of poor engagement from Scouting Ireland
Early drafts of a letter that caused a row between the agency and Scouting Ireland contained stronger criticism of the organisation than the final version.
Chair of child abuse inquiry reports "seriously erroneous" figure in commission report
Mr Justice Ryan said the claim that 170,000 were admitted to institutional school is, in fact, closer to 42,000.
There's been an increase in sexual assaults among teens, says Cari
“Choking is a massive issue,” among teenagers, psychotherapist Stella O’Malley told RTÉ’s Today with SOR show.
'It's a serious form of child abuse': Thousands of girls in Ireland at risk of female genital mutilation
An estimated 6,000 females in Ireland have already undergone the harmful procedure.
Rodney Edwards: How one brave man walked into our newspaper office to uncover shocking sex abuse cases
The Fermanagh journalist details how he and the victims are exposing wrongdoing and seeking the truth. It is not just his job, but his duty, he writes.
One of Britain’s worst paedophiles stabbed to death in prison
Richard Huckle was given 22 life sentences in 2016 for an unprecedented number of offences against children.
'I thought it was my failing': Former footballer Richie Sadlier reveals he was sexually abused as a child
Appearing on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, the popular broadcaster said for years he blamed himself for what happened.
Facebook warned that new privacy rules could aid terrorism and child abuse
The social media network has been dogged by several privacy scandals in recent years.
Couple accused of child cruelty after daughter (9) suffered serious injuries refused bail
Gardaí launched an investigation and arrested the mother and father, aged in their thirties, last month.
Christian Brothers to pay outstanding €6.8 million to redress scheme
The majority of the money will go to the fund, while €429,000 is to be paid to the National Children’s Hospital.
Watchdog finds that Tusla failed to alert gardaí to crimes against children in a timely manner
Neglect and sexual abuse were among the suspected crimes that Tusla was slow to report.
Chelsea staff 'turned blind eye' to sexual abuse
An independent report found that the club’s former chief scout was able to operate ‘unchallenged’, abusing boys in the 1970s.
Gardaí seize 'childlike sex doll' as 14 addresses raided around country
The searches, conducted between Monday and today, were carried out as part of Operation Ketch.
More than 6,000 physical abuse referrals to child and family agency last year
The most common form of abuse in cases referred to Tusla was emotional abuse.
Opinion: The State's refusal to compensate survivors of abuse violates human rights law
In its efforts to avoid paying compensation to victims, the State has spent €1.5 million on legal fees and re-traumatised some of its most vulnerable citizens, writes Conor O’Mahony.
Taoiseach will act upon report which lists catalogue of failures into HSE and Tusla handling of foster home abuse case
The children involved were left with a foster family for several years despite abuse claims.
Pope issues law requiring Catholic clergy members to report sex abuse - but not to police
The law declares that anyone who has knowledge of abuse is obliged to report it to the Church.
US couple sentenced to life in prison for imprisoning 12 of their children
David Allen Turpin and Louise Anna Turpin pleaded guilty.
