Victims wait 3 years to see sex abusers sentenced

Victims of sexual abuse who report the crime to gardaí have to wait almost three years for sentencing in cases where charges are brought.

A report said the legal system was “a complicated, lengthy and sometimes painful process” for those survivors who take the brave decision to seek justice.

The report, The Guide to the Legal Process for Survivors of Sexual Violence, published by Rape Crisis Network Ireland, was launched yesterday by the former justice minister, Nora Owen.

The 72-page guide is written from the perspective of the survivor and offers a step-by-step tour through the maze that is the legal system — from the Garda investigation through to the DPP process and the courts.

“Taking the step of disclosing sexual abuse to someone can be one of the most difficult choices that any person could take,” said the report. “It is even more difficult to make the decision to disclose the abuse to the gardaí and many survivors choose not to do this.”

The report, written by Aisling Wall, said crimes of sexual violence were “very common” in Ireland. It said the landmark Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland report in 2002 estimated that 42% of women reported some form of sexual abuse along with 28% of men.

Ms Wall said RCNI figures for 2011 show that only 30% of survivors who attend their service report the matter to gardaí. She said DPP figures from 2009 show that of those cases that are reported to gardaí and a file sent to the DPP, a decision is made to prosecute in just 27% of cases.

“However, if your case does reach court, there is a very good chance that the accused person will be convicted. In 2009, 29 rape cases were heard before the Central Criminal Court and the perpetrator was convicted in 79% of those cases,” she said.

She said the criminal process can take “a long time” to complete. “Research has found that the average length of the criminal process from reporting stage to sentencing is 33 months.”

RCNI executive director, Fiona Neary, said the guide was about “empowering” survivors by giving them valuable information about the law, and the support services available.

* The guide is available on www.rcni.ie. The national 24-hour helpline is 1800 778888.