Commissioner Callinan: Sex crime victims will be met with sensitivity

The Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has re-emphasised the importance of combining professionalism with sensitivity and compassion in the investigation of sexual crimes.

His comments came as the Garda Ombudsman launched an inquiry after a tape was released in which a number of men, who are alleged to be gardaí, traded jokes about raping a female protester in the Corrib gas dispute in Co Mayo.

Commissioner Callinan said that An Garda Síochána would continue to work closely with support organisations for victims of sexual crime and other victim support groups to ensure that their policy and approach to the investigation of sexual crime met, first and foremost, the needs of victims.

The Commissioner stressed that victims of sexual crime should report those crimes to gardaí and gave an assurance that they will be met with compassion and sensitivity.