Professionals 'must not shirk from reporting child abuse cases'

The chief executive for the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, Joe Gerada, has urged professionals not to shirk from reporting child abuse cases, because the safety of children comes before confidentiality.

He also called for a Children’s Act that would update and consolidate legislation on children, also improving their protection.

Mr Gerada was replying to questions after many people complained last week that a sentence given in a rape case was too lenient.

Mr Gerada said he was in favour of a sex offenders register, adding that it should not be public but accessible to social agencies. He cautioned however against a false sense of security. In many cases, children were abused by people who would not be in the register and were the people closest to them, he said.

(see video clip)