JOSEF Fritzl, the man who kept his daughter locked in a cellar for 25 years and fathered seven of her children, has been described as being one of the most horrific criminals in Austria’s history.

Last week the 73-year-old was sentenced to life in a psychiatric institution after being found guilty of a catalogue of charges including rape, incest, murder and enslavement.

In light of the media focus on the trial, Alison McCausland, consultant and co-founder of The Relationships Centre – the Warrington Guardian’s charity of the year – has spoken out about incest, a taboo subject which is often too painful and frightening for people to talk about.

“Those who are the victims of incest shouldn’t blame themselves. It’s not their fault and it is really important that if it is troubling them that they get help and talk to somebody,” said Alison.

Having spent 30 years working within the police, Alison has been involved in the fields of child protection, domestic and sexual violence, mental health and missing people.

She said that having a child through incest is a gender specific issue, but that men are also victims of this is type of abuse.

The Relationships Centre, based at The Gateway, has run support services for those affected by incest as well as women who have had a child through such relationships.

Victims often feel unable to tell anyone about their experiences because of the stigma attached to the abuse.

Staff at the centre are educated on the topic and are not shocked to hear from victims who have been subjected to the cruelty.

Alison said: “We would look at everything for them and how it impacts upon their lives. Help would be on a one-on-one basis. We would look at individual and tailor the response to their needs.

“Some victims are completely lacking in confidence. It can affect people in different ways. Some won’t go to their dentist because they don’t want anything in their mouths, or their doctor because he is a man. It impacts on people from every walk of life.”

The safety of the person and their family members is also explored.

Alison said that memories of the abuse often haunt people.

Some of the victims who have come forward have decided that they want to pursue the criminal route by pressing charges.

The former police officer said she has known of women who have given birth to a family member’s child and been able to form an attachment with the baby, but others who fail to form a bond.

She said: “A child has no control over their conception – this is an area that requires immense skill and delicacy and would only be dealt with by appropriately trained professionals.”

Speaking about the Fritzl case, Alison said: “This woman and her children are now faced with the task of trying to get on with their lives, they will always live with the knowledge of what was done to them as well as the fear of identification.”

Women who have received help from the charity have been able to make sense of the torment and have been able to achieve happiness from the sessions.

People wanting help can call the Relationships Centre on 246910.

A 54-year-old who was a victim of incest as a child praised the help she received from the Relationships Centre.

She said she blamed herself for the abuse she received at the hands of her grandfather.

Speaking about the Fritzl case, she said: “I think there is a lot of it going on. People are too frightened to come forward. People think if you push it out it will go away. But if you don’t talk about it, it doesn’t happen.”

Read next week’s Warrington Guardian to find out how the charity helped the victim cope with her past.