A brave woman who deserves our support

I SALUTE Mary Shannon, the brave mother of three who felt that turning to the media was her last hope of justice after the man who broke into her home and raped her while her children slept in the next room was given a three-year suspended sentence.

I was disgusted with the sentence. Irish women lack faith in the justice system when it comes to rape prosecutions.

Only one in 10 women report rape to the gardaí and four out of 10 drop out of the legal proceedings along the way. Irish women, in effect, are put on trial to prove they did not encourage their attackers in any way.

I feel angry and scared to be living in a country where if you are raped, there is no point in coming forward as physical crimes against women are taken lightly in the courts.

On the other hand, rapists can now use the excuse of being on drugs or drink and rely on the current unsatisfactory proceedings to get off with their crimes.

Mary Shannon has been brave enough to ask for help from the public. She deserves it. If you feel you can do something to help her and other victims of this heinous crime — by exerting political pressure, for example — then please do so. Mary Shannon and her family should never have been put in this position. Can we have mandatory sentencing for rape?

Victoria Magee

4 Water Lane

Youghal

Co Cork