A French court in Morbihan, Brittany, has begun its trial of retired surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec, who is accused of decades-long child abuse involving 299 alleged victims at hospitals and clinics over a 25-year period. The case is expected to last four months and has sparked widespread attention and debate about the country’s handling of child abuse.
Le Scouarnec, 74, was convicted in 2020 of rape and abuse of children and faces a 15-year prison sentence. Prosecutors claim that he subjected patients as young as two to sexual abuse, including rape, at private and public institutions despite being convicted of possessing child abuse imagery in 2005.
The trial has already captured national attention, just weeks after a mass rape and drugging case rocked France. Many hope that this trial will mark a turning point in the country’s reckoning with child abuse, bringing about a painful but necessary shift in how society views these crimes.
Lawyers for several of Le Scouarnec’s alleged victims say he showed no empathy or emotion towards his young patients, whom he considered “sexual objects.” The accused has been known to have a collection of over 70 child-sized dolls, which investigators believe were used as part of his twisted fantasies.
The trial will be based on Le Scouarnec’s own diaries, which prosecutors claim depict actual events of abuse. However, the defense maintains that these entries are merely fantasies.
For many of the survivors of Le Scouarnec’s alleged abuse, the years since have been marked by trauma and hardship. Many suffered from persistent psychological issues, including depression, anxiety, and difficulties in their personal relationships.
France’s statute of limitations restricts rape prosecutions to 30 years after the victim reaches adulthood, meaning about 80 people were not included in this case. As the trial unfolds, questions will likely be raised about how Le Scouarnec was able to prey on so many young people for so long, and what measures can be taken to prevent similar abuse from happening again.
The case has sparked a national conversation about child abuse, safety, and accountability within healthcare institutions. As justice runs its course, it remains to be seen whether this trial will bring about lasting change in France’s approach to addressing these heinous crimes.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/24/europe/france-scouarnec-child-abuse-trial-intl/index.html