HOWEVER difficult it is, the public must not become impervious and desensitised to harrowing cases of historic abuse still coming to light.
Victims have suffered in silence for years – decades in many cases – and only now do they have the confidence that they will be believed. It is a sorry indictment of society that it has taken so long to reach this point.
Without victims having the courage to come forward, some bravely waiving their right to anonymity to raise the profile of cases, justice would have been denied to many of those whose personal dignity was violated by depraved physical and sexual abuse.