Plea to rape victims ‘treated outside statutory justice system’

Rape victims whose abuse claims were dealt with outside of the statutory justice system have been urged to come forward and have their cases investigated by the proper authorities.

The Rape Crisis Network of Ireland said there are “a lot of” victims whose cases were handled “at some other level” who should now make this known to the State.

It said many victims are watching closely the response to claims by Belfast woman Maíria Cahill that she was raped by an IRA member and later subjected to a “kangaroo court” inquiry.