Hospital experts to retain forensic evidence in rape cases

Hospital experts will be able to take and retain forensic evidence of rape with the consent of a victim who is not yet ready or willing to report the attack to gardaí.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald made the announcement at the publication of the 2014 report of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, which showed that 36% of clients undergoing counselling reported the crime to gardaí.

The DRCC said this was much higher than the national average, which indicated that about 10% of victims reported the crime.