Barriers to counselling have to go

THE growing level of violence accompanying the heinous crime of rape is extremely disturbing.

With sexual assault on the increase, it is particularly worrying that many of the victims are children. In Dublin alone, 2,000 teenagers under the age of 17 sought counselling last year.

It is hard to understand why the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is constrained both legally and in terms of expertise from providing counselling for teenagers.

With so many youngsters now contacting the centre for help and advice, such a barrier makes no sense whatsoever and should be removed forthwith.

Doubtless, the upsurge of violence in rape and sexual assault reflects the rise of violent crime in Irish society.

It could be rooted in the low level of convictions and the inconsistency of judicial sentencing under an adversarial system which militates against the victims of rape.

Whatever the reason, the increase in violence gives grave cause for concern.