Quarter of all sex attacks take place in family home

Some 25% of rapes or sexual attacks last year took place in the family home a new report from the Rape Crisis Network has found.

The organisation provided counselling services to more than 1,700 people in 2010, a 9% increase on the previous year.

More than 15,000 people contacted its helpline.

RNCI director Fiona Neary has warned the Government not to implement any cutbacks to the charity in next month's Budget as it will only lead to greater expenditure in the health care system.

"When victims don't get help and support, they have to go to other parts of the health service - primary care and so on. It's a completely false economy to cut funding to Rape Crisis Centres."