Court cuts rape victim’s damages by €250,000

THE Supreme Court yesterday cut by almost half a record award of €600,000 to a woman who was repeatedly sexually abused during her early teenage years.

The court, reducing the award to €350,000, said the abuse suffered by the woman, now in her 20s, was not a “worst case scenario”.

Sexual abuse support groups were last night examining the judgment. Fiona Neary of the Rape Crisis Network said: “We acknowledge the remarks made by the court that when the perpetrator pleads guilty, the victim is saved the indignity of having to take the witness stand.