Sir, – I write with reference to your report "Man who raped girlfriend and her mother given life sentences" (News, May 4th).
I would like to offer you some feedback from my perspective as a psychologist who works with rape survivors.
I encourage dialogue about rape and the horrendous effects on survivors of rape and sexual assault. The plight of survivors deserves acknowledgement. The perpetrators and the crimes mustn’t be ignored or worse, facilitated by silence.
However, I am troubled by the detail provided in your report. It seems unnecessary. Given the prevalence of sexual violence please bear in mind the sensibilities of your readers, many of whom have been sexually assaulted and/or raped.
At the very least may I suggest you print a trigger warning before subjecting your readers to details of acts committed and words said.
As a professional I was nauseated by your article. I can only imagine how a “lay” person might experience reading such explicit descriptions of the physical and emotional trauma inflicted on human beings, real women, by perpetrators in horrific cases such as this and all rape and sexual assault cases.
– Yours, etc,
SALLY O’REILLY
Ladysbridge,
Co Cork.