Council to join in calls for sexual assault unit

LIMERICK County Council will today join calls for the opening of a sexual assault unit at the Mid- Western Regional Hospital.

Victims of rape and sexual assault in the hospital have to travel to Cork to undergo a forensic medical examination because there is no sexual assault unit in the region.

Last weekend, gardaí in Limerick had to bring a girl of 14 to the Cork sexual assault unit after she was attacked at a house party. Councillor Tom Neville of Fine Gael has tabled a notice of motion for today’s monthly meeting of Limerick County Council calling on the minister for health to give the Health Service Executive Mid-West the go-ahead to open a sexual assault unit at the hospital.

“This matter has been dragging on for years and it is about time there was some action to get this unit for Limerick,” said Mr Neville.

He said bringing rape victims for a medical examination to Cork added unnecessary trauma to the victim. “It is a very big decision for a women to come forward and report a rape or sexual assault as this is a huge traumatic experience,” said Mr Neville.

“But the fact that victims on coming forward then have to undergo a round journey of more than 120 miles for a medical examination is not acceptable in this day and age. Limerick is a major municipal centre and should and must have a sexual assault unit.”

Gardaí and Limerick Rape Crisis Centre have also been calling for the opening of a sexual assault unit.