A fifth of females attending sexual assault treatment units are aged under 18

The study was carried out by a team from the Royal College of Surgeons and from sexual assault treatment units (SATUs) in the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, and Galway. Picture: iStock 

Adolescents and teenagers under the age of 18 account for a fifth of females attendees at the country’s sexual assault treatment units over the last seven years, according to a study.

Among those aged 14 or 15, three out of 10 were attacked by strangers or someone they just met, but almost a quarter were assaulted by a “friend” and a further quarter were attacked by an acquaintance.