‘Grace’ prompts rise in rape calls

One of the country’s main support organisations for victims of rape and sexual assault has had a “surge” of callers to its helpline since the Grace case of alleged abuse in a foster home.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) said it had a higher number of callers than usual on Tuesday, and that all were first-time callers.

The DRCC’s outgoing chief executive, Ellen O’Malley Dunlop, said: “We have had an increase in calls. People were very upset by what they heard and they were a cross-section of people, including people who may have a family member placed [in care services].”