Speaking to Newstalk, the charity said they were “inundated with calls and are continuing to provide assistance to callers today”, with their website receiving 2,000 unique hits.
The helpline was set up once RTÉ confirmed the documentary would be broadcast last night, and was staffed for an hour and a half after Prime Time by three volunteers.
The programme, "A Breach of Trust", focused on three crèches in Dublin and Wicklow, showed footage of children being flung onto mattresses, manhandled, shouted and cursed at, and strapped into chairs for hours at time.
Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said that the individual creché reports which RTÉ obtained as part of the documentary will be published in the coming weeks, and she also recommended a most robust inspection system.
George Hook will be speaking to Fergus Finlay, CEO of Barnardos, tonight on The Right Hook
Fergus Finlay will join me at 5 pm to discuss the creche story
— George Hook (@ghook) May 29, 2013
