Rape crisis centre sees large spike in calls after sentencing of sports writer
THE Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has experienced a large spike in calls because of the sentencing of former sports journalist Tom Humphries.
CEO Noeline Blackwell said some were new callers, while others were victims of sexual violence already getting treatment who had been ‘triggered’ by the two-and-a-half-year sentence handed down to Humphries by the Circuit Criminal Court.
Ms Blackwell has raised concerns over the Government funding of the 16 Rape Crisis Centres nationwide and their ability to collect and process data which she described as a vital part of the jigsaw to provide services.
Clíona Saidléar, director of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, said its group, which collects data from eight centres nationwide, remains unable to afford the processing of this data because of the lack of funds since 2015. She warned that Ireland had been held up as the gold standard by international agencies in collecting data – but this has “fallen by the wayside”.
In a statement, Tusla said that while data was gathered by RCNI, this related to member organisations of RCNI and was “not comprehensive”.
“Tusla’s aim is to broaden the data gathered and thereby the experiences represented to ensure a more comprehensive insight into people’s experiences and needs when accessing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services,” it said.