70 Irish Children

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The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) has called on the government to prioritise mental health services in secondary schools after shocking statistics were highlighted at a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future of Mental Health.

The presentation highlighted that 70 Irish children, of school-going age, died by suicide in 2017.

The IACP has described these statistics as “shocking” and said that “urgent action is required to reverse” them.

The IACP has proposed the expansion of existing mental health supports in secondary school with a school-based therapeutic counselling service under the Pathfinder initiative which would provide students with direct and timely support.

Call for improved mental health services after report shows 70 school children died by suicide in 2017 (RTÉ)

Pic: Allstock

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3 thoughts on “70 Irish Children

  1. Edward Hernon

    Contempt of Court regarding the ‘in-camera’ rule. Issued today the 8/5/2019.

    11 Cathedral View Walk
    Dublin 8
    0872897070
    edwardhernon@eircom.net

    Chief Superintendent
    Kevin Street Garda Station
    Kevin Street
    Dublin 8

    08 May 2019 By way of registered post

    Dear Sir,

    I wish to lodge a formal criminal complaint concerning a serious breach of High Court Orders concerning the ‘in-camera rule’ against the Sunday Times (London) and the Sunday Times journalist Ms Dearbhail McDonald with a view to investigation and prosecution by the Gardai on the basis of a deliberate contempt of court by the above named.

    I wish to refer to an item published on the 6th of June, 2004 by the Sunday Times (London) attributed to the journalist Ms Dearbhail McDonald wherein I am publicly named, my daughter is publicly named as is her mother publicly named.

    “Sunday Times (London)
    June 6, 2004

    Doctor sued over diagnosis of sex abuse
    by Dearbhail McDonald

    Moira Woods, the doctor who pioneered the uncovering of child sex abuse in Ireland, is being sued by a young Dublin woman who claims that she made false allegations of sexual abuse against her father.

    Cherie Eustace, now 23, was referred in 1986 by a family doctor to the sexual assault treatment unit at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin. Woods, then its director, concluded that the then five-year-old had been sexually assaulted by her father, Edward Hernon.

    Eustace, who suffers from depression and has received counselling since she was 15, was estranged from her father following the accusations, but has since been reunited with him. She claims that her relationship with him was “destroyed” and that with her mother “greatly affected” by Woods. Her mother Bernadette Eustace is also suing Woods and the state for compensation.

    In separate legal proceedings, Woods, the Eastern Health Board and the state are being sued by Hernon, chairman of Vocal Ireland, a support group for parents falsely accused of abusing their children. Two years ago Woods was found guilty of professional misconduct by the Irish Medical Council.

    The council, the governing body for doctors, found her guilty of breaching best diagnostic practice in respect of 13 of a total of 55 allegations relating to five children from three families.

    Woods, who strongly denied the charges and will defend the new actions vigorously, was regarded as the leading Irish expert in child sexual abuse and helped to draft guidelines adopted by the Department of Health in 1987.

    A veteran social campaigner and mother of eight — including two sons with Cathal Goulding, a former chief of staff of the IRA — Woods was credited with alerting the Irish public to the prevalence of child sexual abuse and provided
    evidence for several health board investigations into alleged abuse.

    After the Irish Medical Council’s finding against her, a group of doctors wrote to the IMC expressing concern at how the investigation had been conducted.”

    In respect of the above article published by the Sunday Times I refer in particular to the Orders of Mr Justice Robert Barr contained in his judgement in the matter of the Eastern Health Board judicial review, the Fitness to Practise Committee of the Medical Council, Dr Kathleen Cecilia Moira Woods and FAMILIES R., F., S. and H. said judgement delivered on the 3rd day of April 1998 and I refer in particular to the conclusions set out at page 52 (a) (b) (c) (d) of said judgement.

    Mr Justice Barr makes it quite clear that the anonymity of the children and their parents shall be preserved.

    The Law:

    In the judgement handed down by Mr Justice Robert Barr in this particular High Court Action Barr clearly states

    “It is a contempt of court for any person to disseminate information derived from proceedings held in camera without prior judicial authority. Further, At the conclusion of the Inquiry into the complaints made against Dr. Woods, the Committee and the Medical Council may publish their findings thereon but on terms that the anonymity of the children and their parents shall be preserved”.

    [It is to be noted that members of the press are restricted from publishing any material which would be likely to lead members of the public to identify the parties to a case. A breach of this provision is a criminal offence, and on conviction on indictment (in the Circuit or High Court) it can result in a fine up to €50,000 or a term of imprisonment of up to 12 months, or to both].

    I enclose a copy of the conclusions reached by Mr Justice Barr and I also attach a copy of the published article.

    Trusting that my formal criminal complaint concerning a serious breach of High Court Orders concerning the ‘in-camera rule’ against the Sunday Times (London) and the Sunday Times journalist Ms Dearbhail McDonald will be investigated, thoroughly, with a view to prosecution and conviction of the above-named parties,

    Trusting that you will revert at your earliest,

    Sincerely yours,

    Edward Hernon

    1. TheQ47

      By posting this here, publicly, are you not also in breach of the “in-camera rule” and therefore in contempt of court? Are you putting Broadsheet.ie in possible contempt of court by putting on their website?
      Also, I’m wondering why it took 15 years from the date of the newspaper report to you sending this letter to the Gardaí and here?
      Finally, why are you posting it as a response to an item on Mental Health services (or lack of) in Secondary schools in Ireland? It’s probably not the best place for it.

      1. The Old Boy

        Indeed! (Also, the Chief Super in Kevin Street won’t be too impressed at being called “Sir”.)

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