Fears for sex crime victims as number of rape trials falls

THE number of rape and aggravated sexual assault cases being brought to court has fallen by an alarming 70% over the last six years, figures from the Court Service have revealed.

Since 1999, the number of cases before the Central Criminal Court has dropped from 130 to 92 in 2001; 52 in 2003 and just 37 last year. Of the 52 cases in 2003, just 15 ended in a conviction. There were 13 convictions last year.

The decline in cases contrasts sharply with the rising numbers seeking counselling for rape and sexual assault. Recent figures from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre show twice as many people, nearly 16,000 callers, sought counselling compared with just 8,150 three years ago.