An independent review into the handling of complaints of sexual abuse at St John Ambulance found its garda vetting system is incomplete posing a serious risk to children.
The state of its current system could create a potential for unvetted adults to gain access to children, according to the investigation which was commissioned in March 2021 after several men came forward alleging they had been sexually abused as young teenagers by a senior officer at St John Ambulance during the 1990s. The review found that the organisation still doesn't have a finalised child protection policy.
The investigation also uncovered evidence of serious incidents being reported in recent years including several disturbing modern-day allegations of the grooming and sexual abuse of young children. Tonight on Prime Time, RTE Investigates will examine instances of abuse by a senior figure in the organisation stretching back to the early 1970s with evidence the abuse continued without intervention for up to 30 years.
