A YOUNG woman who says she was raped at the age of 14 has spoken out against a justice system which she feels utterly let her down after her attacker walked free.

The Rape Crisis Network has welcomed the opening of a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Galway.

RAPE and sexual assault offences are on the rise but Ireland has the highest number of criminal cases collapsing before they reach the courts, it emerged yesterday.

It has emerged that many rape victims around the country have been left without medical treatment over the past month.

There were 16,331 calls made to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in 2005, according to the centre’s annual report published yesterday.

THE Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) has accused the Government of reneging on a promise to increase funding for its services despite an alarming rise in attacks on women.

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) welcomes today’s call