Rape support services cut to balance books

Rape support services are facing an unprecedented funding crisis, with one of the country?s biggest centres forced to shut its doors because it cannot pay its staff.

Rape Crisis Mid-West is closing its Ennis and Nenagh centres for a month, possibly longer, while it tries to balance its books after six years of cuts in state grants.

The problem is wide-spread and the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland has warned the closures are likely the first of many.