St John Ambulance admitted the "organisation’s structures facilitated grooming and predatory behaviour in the past" after a damning report into allegations of historic sex abuse was published yesterday.
The independent inquiry was carried out by Circuit Court Judge Dr. Geoffrey Shannon over two years and its publication was welcomed by Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman.
Minister O’Gorman said yesterday: “I welcome the publication of this report while being cognisant of the distress its contents may cause to survivors.
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"I would like to thank the people who participated in the review and acknowledge how difficult it can be to tell others about abuse experienced in childhood.”
Dr. Shannon’s report called the “Independent Review of the Handling of Past Complaints of Abuse in St John Ambulance Service” was commissioned in March 2021 after a number of men claimed they had been sexually abused by a senior figure in the organisation in Dublin during the 1990s.
He has spent the last two years trawling through records and quizzing up to 100 people connected with St John Ambulance.
Tulsa has since concluded that a number of the allegations made against the individual were “founded”.
Yesterday, Tulsa announced they had established a dedicated reporting helpline to support any individual who has a current or historical child protection concern in relation to St John Ambulance Service.
Speaking about the report, Tulsa Interim CEO Kate Duggan, said: “Today is an important and emotive day for those affected by the contents of this report.
“We are acutely aware that many people may experience trauma and upset.
“We are committed to supporting those affected, and anyone who wishes to raise a concern following today’s publication.”
She added: “We recognise that this report may cause distress for many people and therefore this helpline will be available over the St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday weekend, Friday 17th to Sunday 19th March from 9 am and 5 pm and will continue during normal business hours in the weeks ahead.
“As this is an independent report, it would not have been appropriate for the Agency to have received a copy of the report in advance of publication, or before issuing to victims.
“We are currently reviewing the report and will follow up accordingly with St John Ambulance if any current or retrospective child protection issues are identified in the report.”
The report by Dr. Shannon also determined that the predatory and abusive behaviour stretched back as far as the 1970s and that child protection measures at the organisation were inadequate and dysfunctional until the mid-2010s.
It also was able to determine that there was a significant degree of awareness within St John Ambulance yet they failed to intervene or investigate.
One example of which included a failure to launch a formal probe into sexual abuse and grooming in the late 1990s.
The report stated that the organisation had failed in its ethical duty of care to its members including hundreds of youngsters.
They also found that complaints were not passed onto the Gardai.
Dr. Shannon wrote that this was done in part because of legal action fears but stated the main reason was to protect the reputation of St John Ambulance.
The report also stated that the lack of action by St John Ambulance, which is a voluntary first aid charity, was a significant source of re-victimisation and traumatisation for abuse survivors with several of those declaring they felt they were targeted as a result of their socio-economic class.
Most of the complaints included in the report centre around one individual but Dr. Shannon also revealed he heard from others who indicated there may have been multiple perpetrators involved in the alleged grooming and or abuse.
The dossier also contains allegations about incidents that have happened recently which were flagged to those in positions of authority in the organisation.
These included modern-day claims of grooming and sexual abuse of young children and Dr. Shannon found that there were major shortcomings in how St John Ambulance responded.
While also concluding that at present, St John Ambulance does not have a finalised child protection policy in place.
In addition, there is a possibility unvetted individuals could have access to youngsters because the charity’s Garda vetting is incomplete.
Dr. Shannon found a mention of a member who had allegedly asked two cadets to perform oral sex within the organisation’s files.
While another member was suspended for inappropriate contact with a cadet. The member also urged the child to keep a secret from their parents.
While another member of the organisation allegedly sent inappropriate messages and pictures to youngsters. But the files did not include the outcome for the alleged perpetrators.
Dr. Shannon’s review also stated St John Ambulance still needed changes and found that the organisation had a denial about failures in the past.
He also found the hierarchical and military-like structure of St John Ambulance had facilitated and insulated abuse in the past.
Dr. Shannon added that these structures still exist and are not appropriate for a healthy child protection and safeguarding culture.
A letter sent to victims this morning from St John Ambulance’s board said it accepted all the findings.
St John Ambulance Chairman David Strahan and commissioner John Hughes said: “We are sincerely sorry for the hurt that was caused to you, your families and your friends, by the failings of our organisation.
“Please be assured that you have been listened to and are believed. It is a source of great disappointment that this was not always the case.
“We fully accept that the organisation’s structures facilitated grooming and predatory behaviour in the past.”
It added: “We are committed to supporting you in any way possible and working to ensure that past failings in our duty of care to our members are never repeated.”
John Church, ISPCC CEO said: “This is not historic child sexual abuse, it is very much abuse that happened in the recent past, and it is difficult to see how such crimes can be prevented from happening again considering the governance issues Dr. Shannon has pointed out.
“No organisation should ever put its reputation before the safety and protection of a child in its care.
“The ISPCC notes that St John Ambulance has followed Dr. Shannon’s recommendation and offered an apology to its victims and survivors, accepting the shortcomings of the structures that enabled the grooming and abuse of children.
“It is not enough to proffer an apology, action must be taken to safeguard children at all times.”
Tulsa’s dedicated reporting helpline to support any individual who has a current or historical child protection concern in relation to St John Ambulance Service is 045 83937
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