The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre condemns any suggestive comments about rape or sexual assault in whatever the circumstances

Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, Chief Executive, DRCC said “Making suggestive comments about rape and sexual assault is not funny whatever the situation or circumstances. Comments of this nature are not just politically incorrect, but they continue to feed attitudes towards this heinous crime that have a long shelf life and are so difficult to shift. Not too long ago we witnessed one such consequence of these unacceptable and inappropriate attitudes, when a group of 50 people demonstrated their support for a convicted sex offender in open court, by shaking his hand in front of the victim, when they were waiting for the judge to hand down his sentence.

The study which examined these attitudes and beliefs in Irish Society, the SAVI Report, told us that 4 out of 10 Irish girls and 1 in 5 Irish boys are the victims of rape and/or sexual assault. Only 1 in 10 report the crime.

The DRCC is pleased to say that our experience of An Garda Siochana in general, has been very good over the years and we have worked and continue to work with them when accompanying victims to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, to court and by contributing to their training programmes. However we condemn any comments of the nature we have heard were allegedly made about the two young students in Mayo. Comments of this nature are totally unacceptable in any context but are much more serious when made by people in authority and who are supposed to be the guardians of our society.”