Sexual assault survivors opting for counselling rather than criminal trial over fear of notes disclosure in court

Ciara Mangan, founder of Beyond Surviving said the results of the survey had now been sent to the Department of Justice as legislation on the use of counselling notes is due to come before the Oireachtas justice committee. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Sex assault and rape survivors are choosing to attend counselling instead of pursuing a criminal prosecution against their attacker for fear their counselling notes will be used in a trial. 

A survey by charity Beyond Surviving was conducted among 301 survivors over the period from February 19 to 27.