How do we help children and adults who have been abused? The first thing is to talk about it, recognising that it is endemic in our world. The second is to be clear that it isn’t the victim’s fault – that any shame they may feel is misplaced. Abuse is always an abuse of power and it can destroy lives. My work in this field began when I was a paediatric trainee in London, and later as a psychiatrist, working with victims of sexual abuse – mainly adults with learning disabilities.
In 2011 the late Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor asked me to assist him in a Vatican visitation of the Diocese of Armagh, tasked with investigating the Irish Church’s response to clerical-abuse scandals. We met dozens of people: individuals, groups and in public meetings. We listened respectfully to the anger that was expressed. There were no riots, there was no adverse press comment. There was just appreciation that we had listened, and more insights for ourselves.
