Alleged sexual abusers could read a child’s therapy files, says psychologist
Head of abuse unit highlights increase in requests for records of children.
Requests for child therapy records, from the legal teams of those accused of sexual abuse, could lead to a breach of children’s privacy and alleged abusers reading victims’ files, the head of the child sexual abuse unit at Temple Street hospital has said.
Clinical psychologist Keith O’Reilly, interim director of St Clare’s Unit, said that over the last couple of years, there has been an increase in requests for children’s therapy records, ahead of criminal trials for child sexual abuse.
“A legal team will seek, through the DPP, access to all information, including therapy records,” he said.
“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.”