An alleged victim of historic child sexual abuse in County Fermanagh has said she does not “plan on silently going away” after it emerged there is insufficient evidence to prosecute ten individuals whom she alleges abused her while she was in the care of a childminder.

The case was one of a series of reports carried in this newspaper, when many alleged victims came forward and shared their experience of childhood sexual abuse dating back over a period of decades.

However, the Public Prosecution Service has ruled that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute ten people arrested in August 2020.

The alleged victim told The Sunday Independent that she does not “plan on silently going away” following the PPS decision.

She said: “The system speaks encouraging words, to come forward about historical abuse, but it is just empty words – they are meaningless.

“The PPS speak about ‘identification issues’, as it was so long ago, but [abuse claims are] the recollections of a child.”

The PPS has told the alleged victim it is “entirely possible” that further witnesses could come forward, in which case the file would be reviewed and the “decision could change”.

The alleged victim has pleaded that anyone with information about historical sexual abuse in Fermanagh, whether through knowledge or being a victim, that they come forward.

She said: “That is why I ask, please, for anyone with any information or others who went through what I went through, please come forward.”

A PPS spokeswoman said: “We received an investigation file from police in July, 2021, reporting ten individuals in relation to allegations of child sexual abuse in Co. Fermanagh during the late 1990s and early 2000s.”

All the available evidence submitted by police was carefully considered by a senior public prosecutor, assisted by advice from independent counsel.

“It was determined that there was insufficient evidence in order to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction in court for any offence. Therefore the Test for Prosecution was not met.”

The alleged victim has been informed and has met with the PPS, the spokewoman said: “The prosecution team met the victim in this case on September 5 to explain in detail the reasons for this decision, which have also been provided to her legal representative in writing. We also informed the victim of her right to request a review of the decision.”

Concluding, the PPS spokeswoman said: “We take our responsibilities to victims very seriously, and we want to ensure that, whatever the outcome of their case, they feel treated with respect and empathy.”

Providing an update on behalf of the PSNI, Detective Superintendent Gary Reid said: “Investigations into historical child sexual abuse in County Fermanagh remain ongoing. Working with and supporting victims to provide their evidence is central to this work and specialist child abuse detectives are diligently working with victims and gathering and reviewing evidence. Files continue to be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service for their considerations.”