More than 2/3rds ( two-thirds) of survivors of childhood sexual abuse, who sought help from the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) last year, had been abused by more than one perpetrator, new figures show. The finding was described as “shocking and astounding” by Fiona Neary, RCNI director. Speaking at the publication of the network’s annual statistics yesterday, she said it was the first time they had gathered such detailed data. The 13 rape crisis centres provided 16,549 hours of counselling and support last year to 1,588 people. They also provided 795 hours of accompaniment for survivors going to gardaí, medical examinations and courts. Some 60.7 (963) per cent of those helped last year had been abused as children, while 30.4 per cent (482) had suffered abuse as adults only, while 141 had been abused as child and adult.

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