Letter: Evidence of a ritual abuse survivor

Sir: Following the publication of a government report, some have declared that lack of evidence proves satanic sex abuse is a myth. This is an invalid conclusion for reasons of simple logic: 'Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.' As a trainee clinical psychologist I have already come across anecdotal evidence of satanic sex abuse. Although I cannot draw a definitive conclusion from this either, I am unconvinced that satanic sex abuse has been, or can be, proved a myth. Indeed I am more convinced that the haste to reach such woolly conclusions is motivated by a wish to defend ourselves from the awful possibility of satanic sex abuse.

Yours faithfully,

RUPERT NIEBOER

London, SW17

2 June