Criticism that man convicted of multiple rapes will not serve jail time

There has been widespread criticism of a suspended sentence handed down to a man found guilty of mulitple counts of rape.

25-year-old Magnuse Meyer Hustveit walked free from court today after receiving a seven year suspended sentence.

He had pleaded guilty to raping his girlfriend while she slept on several occasions between October 2011 and April of 2012.

In a victim impact statement she said that she suffers "memory loss, anxiety, anger and panic".

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said that the crime should have carried a custodial sentence.

Ellen O'Malley Dunlop of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has said that even when violence is not involved, rape has a devastating impact on the victim.

"They have no visible scars, no black eyes, however the effects internally, on their day-to-day worlds is hugely damaging," said Ms O'Malley Dunlop.

"They have flash-backs, they are absolutely crucified by what has happened to them."