One in four children in Ireland have been sexually abused, according to support group ‘One in Four’.

The group, which provides professional help for people who have experienced sexual abuse during childhoodm, is releasing a report today.

They also revealed that 116 adult survivors of child sexual abuse received counselling last year.

The support group says it provided a total of 2,563 therapy hours.

They say treatment for sex offenders and their families is the key to keeping children safe from sexual harm.

Executive Director of the organisation, Maeve Lewis, says some victims experience suicidal thoughts.

She said: “The impact of sexual abuse doesn’t stop when the person grows up and many of our clients experience depression.

“But what is really tragic is that because we have a waiting list, and sometimes people are waiting up to six months for an appointment, we have found in the past four years that four people had actually taken their own lives before we were able to offer them an appointment.

“If there were more resources in services like One in Four, then it’s very possible that lives would be saved.”