Rape is rape. Groping is groping. Let’s not confuse the issues

The ‘non-consensual sexual experience’ phrase lumps together everything from a feel to rape, writes Terry Prone

Mon, 01 Feb, 2016 - 00:00

Terry Prone is an author, columnist and one of Ireland's most well known commentators on communications, politics and public life.

REMEMBER that you read it here first. On this page. In this column. On this day. The general election cliche of 2016 is: ‘The red-line issue.’ A lot of foot-stamping is going on, right now, about what each of the smaller parties would regard as non-negotiable, were one or more of the larger parties, post-poll, to come seeking their favours.

We’re going to be red-lined up to the gills between now and then. This will be the red-line election. I’m sick of red lines already, and the election hasn’t even been called. If ‘red line’ is an irritant, so, too, is “non-consensual sexual experience” as a term applied to rape, abuse, groping and verbal abuse.