Irish Schizophrenic attude towards Child Abuse

[Cael]

I see a man with a wife and three children was put out of his job and sent to jail for three years (nine months suspended) for having sex with a 13 year old girl (who had 21 other older lovers). Now this thread is not about whether that was a good decision or not. It's about the hyper sensitive attitude of Irish society towards any kind of sexual abuse of children - but almost no concern for the economic abuse of children. We don't seem to care that the way we organise society makes it certain that tens of thousands of children will have poor food, a very poor education, poor medical attention and poor housing. It seems, as far as the powers that be are concerned, as long as they are not having sex, then it doesnt matter what children are doing. Does this come from a puritanical streak in the Irish mentality. A puritanical streak that considers poverty as good for the soul, but sex to be the ultimate evil?

[jimmyfour]

Schizophrenic?

Surely you mean something entirely ...else?

[Cael]

Schizophrenic?

Surely you mean something entirely ...else?

I mean maintaining two contradictory ideas, split off from one another in a pathological manner.

[mmrebel]

Are the 21 other older "lovers" going to be charged ? I use the comma's because surly these men could not be considered lovers in the conventional sense ? Or is that term that was used by the gardai and the media ?

[Cael]

Are the 21 other older "lovers" going to be charged ? I use the comma's because surly these men could not be considered lovers in the conventional sense ? Or is that term that was used by the gardai and the media ?

I dont know about that, I suppose it would be silly to charge this man and not everyone else, but that really is not the topic of the thread. Im wondering why the horror of one type of abuse and the easy acceptance of every other type of abuse.

[Mr.De-Regulation]

Bloody stupid thread.

[Fluter]

I dont know about that, I suppose it would be silly to charge this man and not everyone else, but that really is not the topic of the thread. Im wondering why the horror of one type of abuse and the easy acceptance of every other type of abuse.

The point about the neglect of our children is a valid one, but the example you use takes away from it. It wasn't necessary to use it to make the point. Incidently, 21 lovers or not she was still a child

[Cael]

Bloody stupid thread.

I imagine it does feel like an attack on your world view - dod eat dog and all that.

[Didimus]

I see a man with a wife and three children was put out of his job and sent to jail for three years (nine months suspended) for having sex with a 13 year old girl (who had 21 other older lovers). Now this thread is not about whether that was a good decision or not. It's about the hyper sensitive attitude of Irish society towards any kind of sexual abuse of children - but almost no concern for the economic abuse of children. We don't seem to care that the way we organise society makes it certain that tens of thousands of children will have poor food, a very poor education, poor medical attention and poor housing. It seems, as far as the powers that be are concerned, as long as they are not having sex, then it doesnt matter what children are doing. Does this come from a puritanical streak in the Irish mentality. A puritanical streak that considers poverty as good for the soul, but sex to be the ultimate evil?

Older lovers? Is that the best term you can find?
The point that state/society is ignoring many social ills that are caused by the economic organisation of society is one I share.
The tone of this post however, and apologies if I have misread it, sounds a little like "why are we jailing people for not paying their TV license when there are real criminals out there"
Does that fact that he had a wife, and a job and three children, and that the girl had been abused by 21 other adults, sort of lessen the crime?
I'd be delighted if someone, anyone , could be taken to court to answer for the fact that many Irish children live in poverty - but at present they can't. In the meantime I am delighted if the law can be exercised to ensure that 13 year old girls can be protected from abusers.

[wombat]

I think 13 is young enough to be completely off limits for an adult. I agree that we seem to have a bigger problem with child abuse than we are admitting. Once we find a scapegoat we think the problem is solved. Wait for the reaction, its all the fault of the catholic church, problem solved. Can't afford your mortgage payments - its the bank's fault for loaning too much. Failed an exam - crappy teacher's fault.