Mary Crilly to retire from Sexual Violence Centre Cork but says she will continue campaigning 

Having founded the centre in 1983, chief executive Mary Crilly is about to step down — but intends to continue working on the Safe Gigs Ireland campaign

Mary Crilly, founder and CEO of the Cork Sexual Violence Centre, at the CSVC premises on Camden Quay, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

The founder and chief executive of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork is set to retire this summer, but — true to form — Mary Crilly intends to continue campaigning.

Ms Crilly founded the charity as the Cork Rape Crisis Centre, when it was based over the Quay Co-Op, in 1983, and it was, she said, treated with deep levels of suspicion and resentment by many in the city, including in the clergy, in City Hall, and in An Garda Síochána.