Ms Deirdre Kenny:

I thank the Chairperson and committee members for the opportunity to make a submission on this important issue and for giving us the opportunity to address the committee today. Each year, One in Four supports approximately 1,200 men and women who have experienced child sexual abuse, many of whom we accompany through the criminal justice system. We welcome an open discussion on this issue. Every conversation helps to make it easier for survivors to feel seen and supported and for society to respond with empathy and insight. The core experience of child sexual abuse is fundamentally shaped by an abuse of power. Sexual abuse is not just a violation of the body but a profound assault on agency, trust and a child's sense of control over their world.

From our work, we know that survivors of child sexual abuse who engage with the criminal justice system often do so from a position of deep vulnerability. Many have carried the trauma for years, often in silence and isolation. The decision to come forward and report abuse is shaped by fear, shame, concern for others and a deep mistrust of authorities that have historically failed them. Survivors often carry these wounds into adulthood, navigating feelings of powerlessness and stigma that can persist for decades. How society responds to adults who come forward and whether they are believed, respected and supported deeply matters.

For many, engagement with the criminal justice system is a crucial part of healing. It represents an opportunity to reclaim voice and agency, but this process must be handled with the utmost care. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that, in seeking accountability, the justice system does no further harm but supports, rather than undermines, the recovery of survivors. Building on this understanding, One in Four's submission to the committee draws directly on our experiences of supporting survivors as well as from empirical research, specifically, the "victim experience in focus" report, which was funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC. This research details accounts from survivors themselves about the impact of the criminal justice procedures. It highlights that routine court practices, such as requests for and disclosure of personal records, lengthy hearings and a lack of agency, can compound trauma and, in some cases, deter individuals from seeking justice and therapeutic support.

As outlined in our submission, it is essential that survivors retain agency in decisions about their personal information. All personal records, not just counselling notes but also medical, psychiatric and even advocacy notes, can contain profoundly sensitive details which must be protected by robust statutory safeguards.

Our research demonstrates that exposing survivors to additional court proceedings, particularly when these remove the ability to choose or control what is disclosed, carries a real risk of compounding harm. Any reform must ensure that the justice system upholds survivors' dignity, privacy and right to determine what is best for themselves. I welcome any questions.