Who to contact with concerns about the Welfare or Safety of Children or Vulnerable Adults

The guiding principles in regard to the reporting of abuse or neglect are:

  • The safety of the child / adult at risk is paramount
  • If you have a safeguarding concern and are not sure what to do, contact the SMA Designated Liaison Person immediately.
  • Reports should be made without delay to the SMA Designated Liaison Person, Túsla / HSE and An Gardaí and to the PSNI if it relates to an incident in Northern Ireland.
  • If a child / person is in immediate danger contact the Gardaí directly.

Since 11 December 2017, SMA members, as mandated persons, must report any knowledge, belief or reasonable suspicion that a child has been harmed to TUSLA and to An Garda Síochána.

SMA DESIGNATED LIASION PERSON

Ms Rosarie O’Riordan, African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork, T12 N6C8                   
083 – 3965500                     [email protected]

GARDA SIOCHANA                  1 800 555 222 – Child Sexual Abuse Freephone

Gardaí National Protective Services Bureau      01 – 666 3430 or 666 3435   or call your nearest Garda Station.

HSE             1 850 24 1850  or  [email protected]

TÚSLA: Child & Family Agency         1 800 555 222   or   021 – 492 3535

Unit 4a, Floor 3, North Point House, North Point Business Park, T23 AT2P, Cork

PSNI – Police Service of Northern Ireland

101 (within Northern Ireland) or +44 28 9025 9299 (Central Referral Unit)

 

Some Support Organizations

Towards Healing              1 800 303 416          

Towards Healing is a private and confidential counselling and support service for survivors of institutional, clerical and religious abuse, funded by the Catholic Church in Ireland. Office open Tuesday to Friday 9am-5pm but you can leave a message on their Answering service.

Towards Peace                 1 800 505 3028

Towards Peace offers spiritual support to victims / survivors of clerical abuse whose faith in God may have been affected by their experience. Following initial telephone contact, Towards Peace offers an opportunity to talk to a trained spiritual companion in a one-to-one setting and to explore questions and concerns about God, and to get in touch with God’s presence in their lives.

The Samaritans                1 850 609 090

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