One in ten abused Irish women go to authorities

Less than 10% of Irish women who suffer sexual abuse avail of the Criminal Justice System, a Dáil committee heard today.

The Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Women’s rights has heard that Ireland has the lowest number of sexual violence cases in the EU to go to court.

Vera O'Leary of the Open Door Network says she wants to see specialist training for all aspects of the criminal justice system, as well as a need for a statutory definition of what is meant by sexual consent.