Without breaking Irish law, what was max Sinn Fein could have done about child abuse?

Slydice

[To begin with, I'd rather only legal fact here, not opinion]

Anybody know much about child abuse law?

I saw the new reports today relating to Sinn Fein and their knowledge of victims of child abuse.
Example: http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0312/686568-ira-abuse-allegations/

That got me wondering... Without breaking a law...

What was the maximum Sinn Fein could have done to:
1. protect the victims of child abuse
2. stop the perpretrators of child abuse

As Sinn Fein is a political party, is there anything extra they can do (without breaking Irish laws) on matters like this that doesn't apply to other organisations?

Little CuChulainn

Anything extra they can do? Extra to what? They did nothing. At the very least they could have convinced the victim to go to the Gardaí and give information on the suspect to the Gardaí. Other than that I don't see what kind of extra action you think they could have done.

johnnyskeleton

They could have gone to the police and made a statement, like responsible adults.

Slydice

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

Anything extra they can do? Extra to what? They did nothing. At the very least they could have convinced the victim to go to the Gardaí and give information on the suspect to the Gardaí. Other than that I don't see what kind of extra action you think they could have done.

I don't want to know what they didn't do.

I want to know the maximum, they as an organisation could have done to:
1. protect the victims of child abuse
2. stop the perpretrators of child abuse

Edit to (again) add: Without breaking Irish law.

johnnyskeleton

Slydice wrote: »

I don't want to know what they didn't do.

I want to know the maximum, they as an organisation could have done:
1. protect the victims of child abuse
2. stop the perpretrators of child abuse

The maximum they could do is:
1. Inform the health services of the children who have been abused;
2. Inform the police who the perpetrators are;
3. Expel them from the party

super_furry

Gone to the Gardai rather than acting as if they're a paramilitary police force themselves.

Slydice

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

The maximum they could do is:
1. Inform the health services of the children who have been abused;
2. Inform the police who the perpetrators are;
3. Expel them from the party

Is there nothing more that an organisation can do? Do political parties have nothing more than other organisations which they can do?

Is that the most that can be done by an organisation nowadays? Nothing more? Is that the most we provide? Only the ability to Inform Health Services, Inform the Gardai and Expel people from organisations?

Again, without breaking Irish Law.

ceegee

Slydice wrote: »

Is there nothing more that an organisation can do? Do political parties have nothing more than other organisations which they can do?

Is that the most that can be done by an organisation nowadays? Nothing more? Is that the most we provide? Only the ability to Inform Health Services, Inform the Gardai and Expel people from organisations?

Again, without breaking Irish Law.

What exactly else do you think could be done? The gardai and health professionals are best equipped to deal with these situations.

Slydice

ceegee wrote: »

What exactly else do you think could be done? The gardai and health professionals are best equipped to deal with these situations.

I'd rather know the law facts instead of opinion. I would like to feel like I have been (if only a little) informed and/or educated on the law. I made this thread to try and do that.

I do not want to speculate on the matter. I'd rather know the law.

amdublin

This is an assumption on my part.

I'd imagine the max (and the min) they could have done was report it to the relevant authorities.

tayto lover

They had a duty to protect other children who might have been abused at a later stage just like the Catholic Church had.
They should have reported the matter to the Gardai and HSE as anyone aware of sexual abuse is required to do by law. Names and addresses of victims and suspects.

234

Slydice wrote: »

I'd rather know the law facts instead of opinion. I would like to feel like I have been (if only a little) informed and/or educated on the law. I made this thread to try and do that.

I do not want to speculate on the matter. I'd rather know the law.

Non-state bodies have no role in law-enforcement. As a private organisation there is nothing that any political party can do that would approach criminal sanctions or anything akin to a criminal process.

So reporting to the relevant authorities. If they starting making public statement that "X is a perpetrator of sexual abuse" it's likely to be counter-productive and involve them being sued for defamation.

What is it that you have in mind that an organisation could do?

Also, I'm not sure what you mean about fact v opinion. So far you have been offered the facts.

Slydice

234 wrote: »

What is it that you have in mind that an organisation could do?

I've written what I only want:

Slydice wrote: »

I want to know the maximum, they as an organisation could have done to:
1. protect the victims of child abuse
2. stop the perpretrators of child abuse

Edit to (again) add: Without breaking Irish law.

234 wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean about fact v opinion

I repeated that I'd rather know facts about the law so much as I'd rather the replies that get posted on this thread provide information on.. well... facts about the law.

It's like I said:

Slydice wrote: »

I would like to feel like I have been (if only a little) informed and/or educated on the law. I made this thread to try and do that.

hullaballoo

Round and round we go.

The end.