‘If someone is vulnerable, vultures are waiting’ - Head of sexual assault treatment unit

Just half of people attending one of the country’s busiest sexual assault treatment units (SATU) last year reported the crime to gardaí, while a fifth opted to have forensic samples retained before deciding whether to make a complaint.

Margo Noonan, head of the SATU based at the South Infirmary in Cork, also said there was a growing trend of Leaving Certificate students presenting to the unit having been raped or sexually assaulted at overseas “hotspots” popular with people celebrating the end of exams.