Report into abuse at St John’s Ambulance must be published immediately – Doherty  

Delays in the publishing of Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s report into the mishandling of abuse cases at St.John’s Ambulance are ‘retraumatising’ victims and survivors, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Dublin Fingal Senator Regina Doherty said: “In November, I moved that Seanad Éireann demand the immediate publication by the Board of St. John’s Ambulance of the review into allegations of sexual abuse in that organisation.

“After the Seanad motion was passed unanimously, St. John’s Ambulance assured me on December 10^th that the report would be published as soon as legal reviews were conducted by the board.

“When I contacted them again, one month later, a similar commitment was given to victims in a letter on 10th January, with St. John’s Ambulance stating that it is their intention to publish the full report immediately ‘after the relevant review by the Board has taken place’.

“That is absolutely shameful. The delay is not good enough and is retraumatising the victims who bravely came forward to give their testimony.

“The report was legally checked in full by its author, Dr Geoffrey Shannon SC, so this procrastination is wholly unacceptable. It only serves to add to the pain of victims who have gone decades without justice.

“On behalf of victims of rape and sexual violence, we always have an obligation to ensure that they see justice.

“We need to get to the bottom of this, once and for all, and we need to ensure that St. John’s Ambulance publish the report without delay, so that victims get the supports they need and deserve”, concluded Senator Doherty.