Unrepentant McDowell defends rape crisis stance

TANAISTE and Justice Minister Michael McDowell has again defended his handling of the statutory rape crisis earlier this year.

In May, the Supreme Court struck down the law which made it an automatic offence to have sex with a girl under 15, saying it was unconstitutional as it did not allow for a defence of honest mistake about the victim’s age.

In light of that decision, the High Court subsequently freed a convicted child rapist, known as Mr A, amid much public furore.