Victims of alleged sexual assault and rape in the west of Ireland still have to travel several hours by road to Dublin, Clifden or Cork for approved forensic medical facilities, due to lack of Government funding for sexual assault units, according to the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland.
These harrowing journeys have to be undertaken directly after an assault, without showering, if the victim is to have any chance of taking a prosecution, the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI) says.
In letters delivered to TDs in Galway yesterday, the RCNI said there is little point in investing State resources in an expensive DNA database for sex offenders - as is currently being debated - when there is such a dearth of forensic examination facilities.
Ireland currently has five units, based in Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Letterkenny, Co Donegal, and Clifden has a trained doctor on call.
Ms Fiona Neary, RCNI executive director, said Ireland's capacity to offer rape victims the most basic forensic evidence was "abysmal".
Currently, responsibility is shared by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Health, but the RCNI believes the Department of Health is responsible for a delay in approving funding, and said it currently has no civil servant specially assigned to deal with the issue.
The RCNI initiative was part of a day of action yesterday to highlight a Government freeze in funding for services aimed at assisting sufferers of domestic violence. The day was organised by the RCNI, the National Network of Women's Support Services and Women's Aid, representing two national helplines, 15 rape crisis centres and 38 places of refuge and domestic violence support services.
The organisations said €7 million was required to redress the neglect in funding over recent years, and the "chaotic and ad-hoc" funding of the sector had to be addressed in the forthcoming Finance Bill.
Michelle McDonagh adds: Research is currently being carried out in Galway to ascertain why it is so difficult to secure convictions for sex crimes in Ireland compared to other European countries. The comprehensive three-year study being carried out by the department of law at NUI Galway will assess how many of the sexual assault and rape crimes reported here result in convictions.
The study was commissioned by RCNI and is part-funded by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It will draw on the experience of the 16 rape crisis centres represented by the RCNI.
The Minister of State for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Frank Fahey, said it was time to address a situation where convictions were difficult to secure in rape and sex crimes.
