Rape Crisis Centre expects increase in calls to its service

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre says it expects a rise in calls to its service over the Christmas period.

The centre, which supports victims of sexual assault, is reminding people that sex without consent is rape.

The DRCC says almost 2,000 people made contact with their service last December and January.

It also reported a 33% rise in the numbers being accompanied to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda Hospital in the same period.

The Rotunda Hospital.

CEO Ellen O'Malley Dunlop says consent is always necessary.

She said: "It's very clear, if a person is drunk or asleep, they are not capable of giving consent. That's very clear.

"It's really important that the initiator is taking responsibility and knows that they have consent from the other person."