Living through memory of attack ‘like being raped again’ says survivor

A rape survivor has urged people who were attacked to come forward instead of staying silent, but admitted that living through the memory of what happened during the hospital examination was “like being raped again”.

Bernie (last name withheld) was speaking at the launch of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s 2015 annual report which saw her break down in tears.

Discussing the scale of rapes and sexual assaults in Ireland, a significant percentage of which go unreported, Bernie said it is vital women and men who have been attacked feel they can come forward to seek justice.