Doctors say 4 of 19 children at St Mary's are sexually active

Four children who were among the 19 wards of the St Mary’s Children’s Home medically examined by doctors on Friday for alleged sexual abuse were said to be sexually active.

The four – two girls and two boys – were removed from the St Mary’s Children’s home on Friday by officers of the Children’s Authority and taken to the San Fernando Teaching Hospital, where they all underwent a medical examination for close to six hours.

At the end of the examination, doctors determined that two of the girls were sexually active while two boys appeared to also have been sexually abused. The other 15 children admitted to being fondled with other sexual acts being done to them by some of their peers at the home.

Following the examination, the children were returned to the home and placed under round the clock surveillance by social workers of the Children’s Authority.

Today officers from the Child Protection Unit will begin interviewing the 19 children at the home and following the interviews a decision will be taken by the Children’s Authority on the future housing of the wards.

The 19 children previously interviewed by the Children’s Authority admitted to being fondled and other sex acts committed on them while some of the children admitted to sexual penetration.

This led the Children’s Authority to take a decision on Friday to have the children medically examined before deciding on their future with respect to their accommodation and counselling.

The Children’s Authority said on Friday, it was customary to investigate any and all reports, and the Authority will work assiduously to secure any children found to be in need of care and protection.

Today the board of the St Mary’s Home is expected to meet to discuss the latest claims of sexual assault.