The "protective membrane" that shields home abuse remains very hard to see through, President Mary McAleese said this morning.
President Mary McAleese
Addressing the the CARI Foundation Annual Conference in Dublin, she said although the effects and extent of institutional abuse were now better understood, the problems associated with identifying home abuse remained.
"Often the clues lie in the unselfconscious behaviour of an abused child who has little or no comprehension of the unacceptability of learnt abusive behaviour which he or she imitates or acts out".
Ms McAleese said it was heartening to see "a more coherent and evolving child protection culture and the growth of appropriate services and supports for children who have been abused, and for their families.
"CARI's services, I know, play a most valuable role in the spectrum of services available to children and families affected by child abuse. It is to your great credit that through the past 17 years your organisation rose so well to challenges posed by the coming to light of a long-suppressed and long-suffered story of child sexual abuse."
She said the organisation's record placed it in the best position to host this event and "dare to believe that we can break the cycle".
The president also quoted Fr Edward Flanagan, saying that: "There are no bad boys. There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking."
