Sex offences survivors are being asked to share their experience of criminal trials

The University of Limerick study is appealing for victims and survivors to share their experience. Picture: iStock 

Victims and survivors of sexual offences are being asked to take part in the first ever Irish study into their lived experiences of criminal trials.

'Lived Realities: Victim-Survivors’ Experiences of Irish Sexual Offence Trials' is expected to help shape legal reforms in the area. It is focused on trials which have occurred since January 2019.

The study is being led by University of Limerick researcher Susan Leahy and is being funded under Research Ireland’s Collaborative Alliances for Societal Challenges 2025 programme by Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency.

In appealing for victims and survivors to share their experiences, a statement from the researchers said: “The experience of giving evidence at trial as a victim-survivor of sexual violence is inevitably difficult and distressing, requiring the reliving of traumatic events and questioning about sensitive and private aspects of the victim-survivor’s life (eg their previous sexual experience and even information contained in counselling or other personal records).

“These challenges often result in secondary victimisation at the hands of the criminal justice system itself.”

Fortunately, in recent years, there have been several law and policy interventions to improve the situation for victims of crime and some specific reforms targeted specifically at sexual offence trials, the researchers said.

“While these changes are welcome, we know little of how they are operating in practice or if they have had a positive impact on victim-survivors’ experiences.”

The project aims to identify best practice and areas which require further reform. It added: “This project seeks the views of victim-survivors of all adult sexual offences, allowing for insights on experiences in the Central Criminal Court and in lower and regional courts where trials for sexual offences other than rape are heard.”

Further details are available here on the University of Limerick website.