16% rise in calls to rape crisis centre

THE Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) experienced an increase of 16% in calls to the its national 24-hour helpline for victims of rape and sexual abuse in the first six months of 2009.

The centre received 7,560 calls to the line over that period compared to 6,522 calls in the same period in 2008.

It said the increase was due mainly to the huge surge in calls to the helpline following the Ryan report.