Two of the survivors claimed their assailants still had access to minors and suspected they were abusing other children.
In one case, the abuser actually admitted to the crime, while a second abuser admitted he slept in the same bed as the victim when she was a child.
But all four women said that none of the abusers were ever brought to court because of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (pic'd here) had ruled against prosecution.
The first woman, Niamh, said she was abused by a teacher over 20 years ago and that the man was still living next door to the school.
The man still works with children as a relief teacher and a grind teacher. Niamh made a statement to the gardaí over 20 years ago.
Her story was corroborated by other women who claimed they had been abused by the same man.
The man admitted to gardaí he shared a bed with a child, but said he did so because she was scared.
The file went to the DPP, who ruled there wasn’t enough evidence and that too much time had elapsed.
Describing her reaction, Niamh said: “I felt sickened. When the DPP says he won’t prosecute, it’s like the State is saying your story is all lies. I was so angry, particularly because there are young girls still at risk from this man.”
A second woman, Fiona, said her brother-in-law raped her between 1985 and 1987 until she was 10. He also abused a neighbour’s daughter.
He admitted the abuse to gardaí. However, the case wasn’t pursued at the time as Fiona’s family and solicitor advised her to drop it.
In 2000, after her abuser returned from England, Fiona made another statement. Gardaí submitted a file to the DPP. It wasn’t until 2004 that the DPP decided he wouldn’t prosecute.
Fiona and local gardaí asked him to review the decision. He did and decided to prosecute.
However, the brother-in-law sought a judicial review, which ruled that too much time had passed. The judge criticised the DPP’s office.
Fiona said: “I am furious.
There’s a paedophile walking around on the streets of my community just because somebody in the DPP’s office claimed pressure of work prevented them from dealing with my case.”Kate Mulkerrins, of the Rape Crisis Network, said Ireland had the “least transparent, least accountable and least just system of justice”.
A spokeswoman for the DPP said they were reviewing their policy and said it would be inappropriate to comment until the review was completed.
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