Cork Sexual Violence Centre appoints new chief as Crilly retires after 43 years

Cork Sexual Violence Centre Mary Crilly: 'I can’t believe it’s been 43 years since I started in the centre'. Picture: Darragh Kane

Strengthening the quality of care for survivors of sexual abuse will be the priority for the new chief executive of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre.

Sinead Heffernan has been announced as the new chief executive and replaces the centre’s founder, Mary Crilly, who has retired after more than 40 years at the helm.

Ms Crilly is planning to focus on campaigning for standalone legislation on drug spiking, which she says is the “standout crime at the moment”.

Ms Heffernan is an experienced mental health nurse and trauma-informed practitioner with over 25 years of experience across acute mental health, Camhs, crisis services, and the domestic and sexual violence sector.

She said: “It’s an honour to lead the Sexual Violence Centre in Cork at a time when trauma-informed, survivor-centred care is more vital than ever. Survivors who walk through our doors bring extraordinary courage, and my goal is to ensure they meet a service that honours that courage; one that is safe, respectful, culturally sensitive, and responsive to their needs. 

“As a doctor of nursing practice, my work has always centred on shaping best practice into therapeutic approaches that genuinely help people feel safe, understood, and supported. Trauma-informed organisations thrive when staff feel valued, empowered, and competent. When we invest in staff wellbeing, reflective practice, and sustainable training, we strengthen the quality of care for survivors. That will be a central priority in my leadership.” 

Mary Crilly founded the charity as the Cork Rape Crisis Centre when it was based at the Quay Co-Op in 1983.

She said: “I just want to thank everybody for all the support they’ve given me over 43 years, and I can’t believe it’s been 43 years since I started in the centre.” 

She said her next chapter involves having the time to “really campaign and put legislation in place to tackle the crime of spiking, because spiking is the standout crime at the moment”. 

She added: “There’s a game going on called ‘Take Them Down’, where a group might see somebody in a bar, maybe a young guy or a young woman, and they decide 'let’s have a laugh at them and give them something to take them down', just to see the reaction of somebody nearly collapsing and wondering what’s going on, or knowing something is happening.

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“It’s happening wholesale. It’s happened to men in their 50s, it’s happened to women, it’s happened at weddings, it’s happening everywhere, because there’s a certain type of person who feels this is a great laugh."

She also plans to continue to work on the Safe Gigs Ireland campaign.

“My last day as chief executive is Wednesday, September 30, and I’m looking forward to just having the time to focus on campaigning and legislation,” she said.

Meanwhile, a new manager has been appointed to the Waterford Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre. Ivanna Youtchak has been appointed to the position, having previously worked at the National Women’s Council as a senior policy co-ordinator in the area of violence against women.