“It feels as though there’s no one fighting for us. It’s as if there’s no one advocating for our child.”
This sentiment echoes through the heart of a father from Múlaborg, whose child is thought to have been physically abused by an employee at the local kindergarten.
Frustration swells within him not only towards the police but also the city officials involved in the investigation. Last week, he received a disheartening letter from the district attorney announcing that the prosecution would not be pursuing further action in his child’s case.
He reveals that at least four other parents have received similar notifications. Meanwhile, the accused employee, in his thirties, faces charges of rape and sexual assault regarding a girl in the same department where he worked. At one time, he was suspected of offenses against as many as ten children.
The man has been charged with serious sexual offenses against a child.
Photograph/Colourbox
A Lack of Clarity
When asked about the decision, the father—who prefers to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the case—expresses his disappointment at the absence of a clear explanation for why the prosecution was halted.
“An hour after I received the letter, I called the prosecutor’s office, and they assured me that the person who signed it would return my call. That call never came,” he laments.
It has been communicated that only one case against the employee will be prosecuted, with others deemed unlikely to result in a conviction. The father struggles to understand this rationale, particularly regarding his own child, as he believes the evidence of physical abuse is clear-cut.
For a time, the employee faced allegations concerning over ten children.
mbl.is/Eyþór
Revisiting a Disturbing Account
The father recounts the unsettling emergence of suspicion surrounding the employee’s actions. His child began to express inappropriate remarks, hinting that the employee had caused them distress—comments that came before the arrest.
Prior to realizing the severity of the situation, the father and mother maintained a vague understanding of these statements. After receiving guidance on how to discuss such matters with their children, they listened in shock as their child disclosed specific incidents of abuse, including being physically restrained by the employee.
During a police interview, the child’s mother conveyed this disturbing account, and about a month later, the child reiterated the details during questioning at a children’s facility. The parents were allowed access to the employee’s hearing regarding their child; the father noted that the worker admitted to grabbing the child’s sweater but denied other allegations.
Feeling Abandoned
When reflecting on the decision to drop the case, the father succinctly states:
“It’s as though there’s no one fighting for us. There’s no one fighting for our child.”
He criticizes the delays throughout the investigation, pointing to instances where parents reported suspicious behaviors to the police, yet the employee was not interrogated for a month and a half. Throughout this lengthy process, he felt a void of communication and clarity.
“It’s shockingly inhumane and impersonal. It’s baffling that they can’t interact with these parents in a more human manner,” he adds, clearly hurt and frustrated.
The father also notes that much of what they learned about the case came from media reports. They were left in the dark regarding the nature of the charges, not discovering until later that the man was suspected of two counts of rape.
Vulnerable Moments in Care
Deeply troubled by these events, the father reflects on the broader implications, particularly concerning the city of Reykjavík. He highlights the ongoing crisis surrounding the shortening of the working week and the inadequacy of staffing in newly opened departments like Múlaborg.
As a result, caretakers found themselves alone with children during critical, vulnerable moments, including trips to the restroom and rest periods. The father relates that the very employee now facing charges had been supervising children in isolation during such sensitive times.
