Minister Charlie Flanagan.
PHOTOCALL/LEAH FARRELL
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan is to review the legal protection offered to complainants in sexual assault cases, in the wake of the Belfast rape trial, the Irish Times reported Monday.
While the case was tried in Northern Ireland, which operates a different system from the Republic, concerns have been expressed about how trials are carried out in the State.
Speaking to the Irish Times, Mr. Flanagan said there was a more robust system in place in the Republic than that in Northern Ireland.
However, he believed it was appropriate to review all aspects of how “such deeply sensitive trials are conducted” and whether further protections should be offered to a victim of sexual assault.
Currently, rape victims act as witnesses in the State’s prosecution but are not entitled to their own legal representation, and this will come up for consideration.
Mr. Flanagan said the review would also assess how cases could be dealt with quicker and if additional training was required for members of An Garda Siobhana.
The Minister added: “I will commence consultations with women’s groups and the legal profession without delay. I want the Domestic Violence Bill enacted within weeks, and the Criminal Justice Sexual Offences Act and the Victims of Crime Act are being rolled out offering greater protection. I will study what more can be done to protect women and girls.”
Mr. Flanagan also committed to updating the national survey on sexual violence, which was last published in 2002, and will convene a special working group to address this gap in information.
Mr. Flanagan also committed to updating the national survey on sexual violence, which was last published in 2002, and will convene a special working group to address this gap in information.
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ROLLING NEWS.IE/SAM BOAL
Meanwhile the Irish Independent reports that the prospects of Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding continuing their rugby careers in Ireland look increasingly unlikely as an investigation gets under way to decide if they have brought the sport into disrepute.
The IRFU and Ulster Rugby are examining the pair's conduct, including the series of graphic text and WhatsApp messages revealed during their trial for rape in Belfast where they were found not guilty.
The fallout from the extraordinary case which ended with the acquittal on all charges of Jackson, Olding, Blane McIlroy and Rory Harrison continued yesterday as thousands of people, mainly women, attended rallies and marches on both sides of the Border.
Nearly 4,000 marched in Dublin, several hundred held a rally in Belfast and there were also gatherings in Cork and Galway expressing support for the complainant.
