Statutory rape laws - McDowell’s competence in question

LAST night’s announcement by Justice Minister Michael McDowell that emergency legislation designed to close the Constitutional loophole on child rape will come into law before the weekend will be welcomed the length and breadth of Ireland.

In future, it will be a statutory offence to have unlawful carnal knowledge with a person under the age of 17. However, the new law would allow for the claim of mistaking the age of the victim to be made in court.

This will ease the embarrassment of a government mired in controversy. But it will not lessen the public outrage over the release of Mr A, the man jailed for raping a 12-year-old girl. It should avert the recall of Dáil deputies from their 11-day Whit holiday.