Associate Counselling psychologist with Family Life Ministries, Jennifer James, believes parents who 'enforce' silence are sending the wrong signal to the abused relative.

"Silence is one of the things that helps incest persist," she notes. "In most cases it (silence) is enforced and this only serves to tell the victim that their problem, their feeling is not important."

"The long-term effect depends on who the perpetrator is, over how long a period of time it took place, and exactly what was done. The longer it happens, is the stronger the effect of the acts are."

According to the psychologist, some of the signs to look for are anger, a lack of cooperation and a withdrawn personality. "The entire family needs help," she explains in regard to Shelly's ordeal. "The father blames himself, and there is a problem between himself and his daughter that he needs to address; her trust in him as been eroded.

"He needs to come to a place that he can re-establish a relationship with his daughter and he also has to forgive himself for the choice he made in championing Kirk, and failing to see, and to be open to the fact that anything is possible," James advises.

Needs to see therapist

She adds: "Shelly needs to see a therapist to work through the feeling of shame, betrayal and guilt she would be experiencing, and while the young man must face the consequences for this criminal act, some attention must also be paid to him."

According to a senior police officer attached to the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse unit in the St. James division, who spoke on condition of anonymity, unless the parent is willing to have the matter reported, the police are unable to act.

"While we have been getting a few reports of this nature, we have discovered unwillingness by parents to follow through and have the perpetrator prosecuted," the officer states.

"However, if the matter is drawn to our attention, personnel can then take the victim in for questioning to establish if a crime has been committed.

While the legal definition of incest is sexual activity between family members, James says for the purpose of counselling, it incorporates any member of a household.

Efforts by The Sunday Gleaner to speak with an official from the Child Development Agency were unsuccessful.