Rape victims wait 11 hours to be examined

SOME rape victims have to wait up to 11 hours to be examined because of a shortage of doctors trained to gather forensic evidence.

Rape counsellors fear rapists will escape prosecution because victims find the lengthy delays in carrying out medical examinations too degrading. Victims cannot change their clothes or shower while waiting for forensic examination.

The vice chairman of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP Committee, Dr Martin Daly, has called for the establishment of a specialist team of trained police surgeons to forensically examine rape victims.