HSE confirms sex assault unit will not be reopened

THE sexual assault treatment unit at Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, which was closed because of a lack of funding, will not be reopened, the Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed yesterday.

This is in accordance with the report of a working group which looked at such services nationally and which has recommended that two extra units be established — in Galway and the Midlands.

However, a strong campaign is being carried out by the Kerry Rape Crisis Centre to get the Tralee unit reopened and people in Tralee, Killarney, Listowel and Dingle are being asked to sign a petition in support of the case, this weekend.