Rape cases plan under fire

RAPE Crisis groups last night criticised proposals by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to allow rape cases be heard in local courts.

Currently, rape cases, considered second in seriousness to murder, can only be heard in the Central Criminal Court, in Dublin. Moving them to other courts would send out the wrong message and deter women from reporting assaults, said Ingrid Wallace of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, which represents 14 centres. "We would be opposed to moving rape cases from the Central Criminal Court to the Circuit Court.

"Rape is such a serious crime and we worked so hard to have it seen in that way, that if you shift it to the Circuit Court you would be giving a clear message that we're not taking it as seriously as we used to." In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr McDowell said the move would be part of a restructured courts system and would help address the lengthy backlog of rape cases. Because of a shortage of High Court judges, rape cases can take up to four years before being heard in the Central Criminal Court. "The Circuit Court has jurisdiction to deal with the most complicated fraud cases, theft, robberies, but isn't entitled to do the most simplest rape cases. Maybe that distinction has to be revisited," said Mr McDowell.