Rape network hits out at police

THE Rape Crisis Network Ireland has criticised the Garda authorities for not including sexual violence as a policing priority for next year.

It said that despite a number of new policing initiatives, services for sex crimes will continue to be under-resourced.

Yesterday, Justice Minister Brian Lenihan and Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy announced new Garda resources, including specially trained personnel to deal with children and sexual assault victims.

Rape Crisis Network legal coordinator Kate Mulkerrins said: “The [network] has identified the Garda response as a major weakness in the criminal justice system’s response to sexual crime. We know shortcomings in the investigative process contribute significantly to the appalling failure of the Irish State to bring to justice sexual offenders. We believe targeted reforms and resources to An Garda Síochána can have a meaningful impact on both a rape victim’s experience of the justice system and on the eventual outcome of a case,” she said.

However, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre welcomed the initiatives and the fact the force has committed to working with the new office for domestic and gender-based violence, Cosc.

Last night the Garda press office said it was not in a position to comment on the network’s statements.