The End of Innocence
Child Sexual Abuse in Ireland

In 'The End of Innocence', practitioners provide a thorough understanding of all the issues surrounding child sexual abuse, including legal and policy issues and treatment issues for both victims and perpetrators.

Since the 1990s there has been numerous high profile child abuse cases, some involving members of the clergy and others occuring in institutions for children in care. A problem that was once seldom or never discussed is now very much in the public arena. This book describes a number of the scandals uncovered during the 1990s and the reactions to those scandals. It then goes on to describe the treatments available for victims of abuse, as well as for the perpetrators. The book concludes that Irish society's "innocence" may be gone, but that could be a good thing if it means children can be better protected and treated in the future. Contributors come from a wide range of backgrounds, legal and psychological and include: Owen Keenan, Rosaleen McElvaney; C. Niall McElwee; Gary o'Reilly; Deirdre O'Shea; Geoffrey Shannon; and Oliver Travers.