Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy is to establish a new sex offences unit aimed at improving the prosecution rate of sex crimes and centrally recording complaints against clerical and other sex abusers.
Mr Murphy said the move had been prompted by the publication of the recent Murphy and Ryan reports into cleric child sex abuse and the Church’s handling of cases, which had both outlined a “shameful history of child sexual abuse”.
“The unit will also be focused on assisting and advising gardaí in the investigation of (sex) crimes and in promoting best investigative practice in line with international standards.”
Members of the unit will be appointed as official liaison officers to deal with the Church and agencies involved in child welfare and assisting sex abuse victims. Members will be trained in the skills needed to interview young children who have been abused.
Mr Murphy said a policy document on techniques for investigating sexual offences had been compiled by Deputy Commissioner Martin Callinan in the aftermath of the Murphy and Ryan reports and would be distributed to Garda members in the coming days with a view to improving the force’s handling of cases.
“We must show our understanding of the physical and emotional pain often suffered by victims, whether of recent or historical abuse.”
Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (Agsi) in Galway, Mr Murphy also confirmed gardaí were not “at this point in time” conducting any investigation into Cardinal Seán Brady’s handling of cleric abuse cases.
