700 went to sex assault treatment units last year

Almost 700 men and women attended the six sexual assault treatment units across the country last year.

The figures were yesterday released by the HSE to coincide with the launch of new national guidelines on meeting the needs of survivors of sexual violence by the treatment units.

Figures from the Rape Crisis Network Ireland show that almost 500 people were accompanied to the units by rape crisis workers last year.

However, a total of 677 people visited the units.

The RCNI statistics show that 95% of the 495 victims accompanied by rape crisis workers were women. Ages varied from the teens to 65.

In 2012, rape crisis workers took 512 people to the treatment units — a 4% decrease in the numbers being accompanied from 2012 to 2013.

According to the RCNI acting executive director Clíona Saidléar, a doubling in the number of treatment units in recent years has resulted in more people going to them.

Units have opened in Limerick, Galway, and Mullingar, Co Westmeath, over the last four years and more established units have been secured in Dublin, Cork, Donegal, and Waterford.

The units offer emergency contraception and medicines to reduce the possibility of developing sexually transmitted infections. Forensic evidence is also collected from the victim.

The RCNI works at the treatment units as part of a team that includes gardaí, nurses, and doctors.

The new guidelines, now being implemented, allow for valuable forensic samples to be taken from every victim, not just those who are accompanied to the unit by gardaí.

Victims of sexual assault usually contact a rape crisis centre or gardaí, but some go to a unit on their own.

The move brings Ireland into line with international best practice.

Ms Saidléar said people who suffer a sexual assault were severely traumatised and might not want to have the gardaí involved immediately.

“The preservation of vital evidence in all cases has been a key issue for us for about five years,” she said.

Up to now, victims of sexual assault who reported the incident to gardaí would be brought by an officer to a unit where they would receive comprehensive medical, psychological, and forensic care. Injuries would be documented and treated, and appropriate forensic samples taken.

People could also attend a unit to have a health check and receive medical and psychological care without reporting the matter to gardaí. The service is free.

However, because a garda was not present, forensic samples could not be taken.

Victims who changed their mind and reported the incident to the gardaí could miss an opportunity to have sensitive forensic samples taken that could compromise potential prosecution.

- Contact information for treatment units around the country is available from hse.ie/satu and further information about rape crisis services is available from www.rapecrisishelp.ie