Girl, 15, alleges rape at Junior Cert disco

A 15-YEAR-OLD girl was being interviewed by specialist gardaí yesterday over claims that she was raped by a 14-year-old boy during a Junior Certificate disco.

The boy was expected to be released from custody last night, having been questioned in the company of his father about the alleged rape since late on Wednesday night.

Gardaí are satisfied that sexual intercourse did take place but are awaiting the results of examinations carried out at the Sexual Assault Unit at the Rotunda Hospital.

The girl was taken to the specialist unit on Thursday and was released from hospital at about 4am yesterday. Specialist Garda child interviewers began taking a statement from her yesterday afternoon.

The age of consent is 17. If both the boy and girl are underage, only the boy can be prosecuted.

Gardaí are also examining whether or not force was used.

The incident happened in a toilet cubicle in the Tramco nightclub in Rathmines on Dublin’s southside on Thursday night.

The alarm was raised after 11.10pm, when three security staff outside the toilets heard a female screaming inside.

Gardaí suspect that the girl had gone into the toilet cubicle with the boy and that the alleged rape happened soon after.

When the security staff got to the cubicle they took the girl out and she made an allegation about the boy.

Staff contacted gardaí and officers who had been on duty in Rathmines arrived almost immediately.

Garda sources said the music was turned off and the club shut down. They spoke to the staff and anyone else who heard or saw anything.

“We have seized CCTV and identified witnesses,” said a Garda source. “They have been interviewed.”

The boy, from the south Dublin area, has previously come to the attention of gardaí for a public order incident.

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre declined to comment on the case, but gave out safety tips to children out celebrating the end of their Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams.

“We would urge young people to stay together, keep an eye on their drinks constantly and keep relevant numbers on their phone, including the national rape helpline,” she said.

“We are not just putting the onus on potential victims. We are also warning potential perpetrators of the law.

“The age of consent is 17. If you have sex under that you are breaking the law. It behoves everyone to know the age of consent.”

- 24-hour national rape helpline 1800 778 888. www.drcc.ie or www.rcni.ie.