Ireland is still not ready to recognise marital rape as a criminal offence, it was claimed today by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI).
Welcoming yesterday's conviction of a 46-year-old Sligo man for raping his wife just weeks after the birth of their child, the RCNI said it was important to point out that very few women who have been raped within marriages feel they "have any hope of justice in Irish Courts".
The case represents the first standing conviction for marital rape (a conviction in 2000 was successfully appealed in 2004), while recent RCNI statistics showed that up to 22 per cent of sexual violence on adult women is perpetrated by a partner or ex-partner.
RCNI Legal Policy co-ordinator Kate Mulkerrins said that public attitudes were "crucial in preventing, overcoming and punishing this crime. Without a climate of understanding the law in Ireland it seems is powerless."
Executive director Fiona Neary said she regretted that consent to sexual relations in Ireland is still understood to imply continued consent.
"Continued ambiguity about this point means very few women who have been raped within marriages feel they will be believed or feel they have any hope of justice in Irish Courts," she said.
Speaking to ireland.com, Amnesty International Irish Section Campaigns Manager, Jim Loughran, said that the conviction represented "a major step forward" but also highlighted the need for increased support for women who wish to report such an incident and more funding for frontline support services for victims of sexual abuse.
"The obstacles that prevent women coming forward need to be eliminated so that they can pursue their cases through the courts. The systems and the supports need to be put in place to make that as painless as possible," he added
Marital rape became an offence in Ireland in 1990, ahead of the UK, but 25 years behind Sweden. Of the 10,317 instances of abuse reported to Women's Aid in 2003, 1,352 were reported to involve sexual abuse, of which 511 were rapes.
Survivors of marital rape can contact their local Rape Crisis Centre (RCC) or the 24 hour helpline (1800 778888) for confidential support, guidance and expertise.