Concerns raised over sex crime accused’s access to child therapy files

Keith O’Reilly, interim director of St Clare’s Unit, said there has been a marked increase in requests for children’s therapy records ahead of criminal trials for child sexual abuse.

He told The Irish Times: “A legal team will seek, through the DPP, access to all information, including therapy records.

“It could go to the accused’s legal team, but also the accused does have a right, as far as I understand it, to read the therapy records.”

He said that “most therapy records aren’t relevant for that purpose” and requests for such files had raised “difficult and upsetting issues” for parents, young people and children.

He said: “Parents might be in a very invidious situation where they are advised that if they are not released, it might potentially mean the trial doesn’t proceed.”

Mr O’Reilly also said he was concerned that knowledge about this access to records might deter people from accessing therapy.

St Clare’s Unit has engaged with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Department of Justice over its concerns had input into the proposed Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill.

Mr O’Reilly said the proposed legislation would help regulate the issue by giving trial judges more control over what information is released.