Madam, - We in Rape Crisis Network Ireland welcome the report in your edition of January 31st which highlighted successful convictions for 38 rape cases in Irish courts last year. It is vital that those considering reporting rape can see that successful convictions are possible.
However, the data in this report dealt only with cases which reached the courts - which is not the norm. A wider lens must be applied if the full picture, is to be understood. This must include data on at least the following: how many rapes were reported, how many stayed in the system and how many were sent forward for trial by the DPP? When the numbers of convictions, 38 in 2006, is considered against the total of 458 reported rapes (Garda Annual Report, 2005) there is no room for comfort.
Garda detection rates between 2000 and 2004 have dropped from over 70 per cent to 30 per cent in reported rape cases. A similarly striking decline has also occurred in the proportion of cases being prosecuted by the DPP. In the 1970s, two thirds of cases received resulted in a prosecution; this has dropped to only one third in recent years.
The Rape Crisis Network rejects the statement in your report that court statistics "do not support the contention of organisations working with rape victims that there is a reluctance of victims to report attacks because they feel a successful prosecution is unlikely". It is still the case that only one in 10 cases of sexual violence are reported at all. Access to forensic medical examination within a humane amount of time still depends on where a victim lives. It continues to be the case that a processing time of 50 weeks from an arrest to "return for trial", and then a further 68 weeks until the start of the actual trial - totalling 118 weeks - is the average in a rape case in Ireland. The Government has still not announced any national strategy, with targets, to address these unacceptable time delays.
Our analysis of the above, and many other factors, leads us to four strong and urgent recommendations. Firstly, the deployment of specialist victim liaison gardaí. Secondly, regionalisation of specialist investigation of crimes of sexual violence. Thirdly, a coherent, nationally planned approach to initial and in-service Garda training in this area. Fourthly, specialist prosecutors in sexual violence cases. - Yours, etc,
FIONA NEARY,
Executive Director Rape Crisis Network Ireland,
Quay Street,
Galway.