Gardaí doubt most rape claims, survey finds
Rape victims are less likely to be believed if they are drunk, working class, have had a consensual sexual relationship with their alleged attacker or if they are not in a high state of distress when they make the claim, the survey found.
The report, compiled by Dr Stephanie O'Keeffe, found 60% of gardaí focused on whether women were telling the truth instead of gathering proof to support the allegation or disprove it.
Her four-year research on Garda Decision-Making in Investigations of Rape received full co-operation from the head of research at the Garda College in Templemore, Kieran O'Dwyer.
Dr O'Keeffe was allowed interview 33 members of the force, ranging from trainee gardaí to members who had served between five and 15 years. A questionnaire was sent to a further 800 gardaí, 41% of whom responded.
"There is a belief among gardaí that women make false allegations of rape and they perceive their role as having to determine the truth of the allegation. They believed women make up allegations for a variety of reasons including revenge, fear of pregnancy if they have had an affair, attention seeking, emotional or psychological problems.
"One garda said that only one of 10 reports of rape turn out to be true and a number put it closer to a 50/50 split," Dr O'Keeffe told a conference on sexual violence in Cork yesterday.
Once gardaí make that assessment about the veracity of the claims, they pursue the investigation differently, she said.
"If they feel they are telling the truth, they seek proof to support or disprove the claim, but if they do not believe the victim, then they try to find out if the complainant is lying," Dr O'Keeffe said.
Some 55% of gardaí surveyed described the training they were given to deal with alleged rape victims as poor or very poor.
Dr O'Keeffe said rape victims she had interviewed were particularly sensitive to whether they were believed by gardaí.
A garda spokesperson said Mr Dwyer had received the report and had circulated it to a number of gardaí. He was waiting for them to respond before deciding what action, if any, would be taken.
