Rape victims forced to go to Dublin for tests

VICTIMS of rape in Galway and Mullingar have to travel to Dublin to be examined following an attack, as promised sexual assault units have not yet been opened.

According to Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, €2.4 million was allocated for two Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATU) in the 2006 budget, but, as yet, they have not come on stream.

“The money was made available in the December 2006 budget announcement to update the existing units, and open new ones. A SATU at Letterkenny is not operational and new units, one in Mullingar and one in Galway, are not yet open.”