MONDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2025
Highest Number of Child Sexual Abuse Disclosures on Record Reported to One in Four in 2024.
One in Four, Ireland’s specialist support service for adult survivors of child sexual abuse, has seen a record-breaking rise in people seeking support in 2024—especially men.
Contacts to the service increased by 17%, with 7,674 support sessions delivered to 1,292 individuals.
Advocacy support requests rose by 21%. The percentage of male survivors coming forward reached a historic high, climbing to 62% from 48% last year.
This increase follows the publication of the Scoping Inquiry Report into Historical Sexual Abuse in Schools. “When the State talks honestly about child sexual abuse and demonstrates that survivors will be heard, people respond,” said Deirdre Kenny, CEO of One in Four.
“The public conversation and the visibility of the Scoping Inquiry have helped create an environment in which survivors—especially men—felt able to come forward and seek support. These numbers represent not just statistics, but real people breaking years, sometimes decades, of silence.”
Key Statistics from 2024:
• Total sessions delivered: 7,674
• Individuals supported: 1,292
• Advocacy support up 21%
• Male survivor disclosures: 62% (from 48%)
• Location: Dublin 44%, rest of Ireland 45%, international 6%, unknown 5%
• Gender: Male 62%, Female 37%, Nonbinary 1%
• Prevention programme participants: 72
Today Monday 20th October, Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD launches both the organisation’s Annual Impact Report 2024 and their Strategic Plan 2025–2029.
As Ireland grapples with the consequences of decades of abuse, today’s children face new risks—especially in the rapidly changing online world. Recent national research led by Dr. Karen Hand with One in Four found that 91% of Irish adults agree that state and society have failed to do enough to tackle child sexual abuse, and 82% believe sexual violence in childhood is far more common than is publicly acknowledged.
These findings underscore that the public supports urgent action and investment into stronger prevention, trauma education, and a truly whole-of-society response.
“While the Commission of Investigation will play a crucial role in examining decades of child sexual abuse in schools and uncovering the lessons of our past, it is essential that our focus does not overlook the risks children face today. Only by working together—State and community—can Ireland move beyond the rear-view mirror, confronting ongoing dangers and making sure every child is safe from harm,” said Ms. Kenny.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact Kathrina Bentley, kathrina@oneinfour.ie or 083 840 8665.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. One in Four Ireland is an Irish non-governmental organisation.
2. Our mission: At One in Four we work together to end child sexual abuse by providing expert-led support to survivors; prevention strategies whilst empowering societal responsibility.
3. One in Four offers a comprehensive, wrap around service model designed to support survivors of child sexual abuse.
4. Our approach integrates multiple services to ensure our response to the impact is coordinated and addresses diverse needs.
5. We provide a safe space for families to understand and address the dynamics that allowed the abuse to happen.
6. Our services include:
• Counselling / Psychotherapy for survivors (individual)
• Support group for survivors and their family members (Group)
• Advocacy support
• Prevention programme
• Accredited training for professionals
For information or support please contact us in confidence on 01 662 4070 or info@oneinfour.ie or visit www.oneinfour.ie.
Please find attached below the Annual Review 2024 and Strategic Plan 2025-2029:
