Madam, - The tragic end to the life of Georgina Eager, as she tried to pursue her career as an alternative therapist needs to be examined if other young women are to be spared a similar fate.
Perhaps it is time to consider the regulation and inspection of alternative practitioners. Christopher Newman, Georgina's murderer, had bogus qualifications. She was lured to her fate, her vulnerability exploited. Such men exist in all professions and the sexual exploitation of adult women by their employers, by therapeutic practitioners, or by clergy has not been sufficiently addressed.
I would not say Georgina was in a "relationship" at all; she was a sexually exploited employee. There was a power differential, he was her employer and he was considerably older. Young women and men starting on careers should be aware of such predation. Advice needs to be offered on how they can deal with such behaviour.
In 2003 MACSAS (my organisation) and the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI) convened a conference on "Adult Abuse by Professionals and Clergy". We hoped to raise the profile of professional practitioners including clergy, who sexually exploit women such as Georgina (and some men), convincing them there is a genuine relationship when in fact this is bogus. There is a report of that conference at the RCNI office, Galway.
Employers, doctors, psychologists, clergy, dentists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses - indeed anyone in a position of professional power, offering either employment or counselling or pastoral care - have no business engaging women or men into a sexual relationship if these women and men are in their care or employment. It is sexual exploitation, abuse.
MACSAS can offer support to those sexually exploited by clergy and Rape Crisis Centres throughout Ireland will help others sexually exploited by professionals/employers. (www.rcni.ie). May I offer my sincere condolences to the family of Georgina Eager and may she rest in peace. - Yours, etc,
MARGARET KENNEDY, Independent Consultant on Clergy Abuse of Adults, MACSAS (Minister & Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors), London E8.