A woman who was raped in Co Clare more than four years ago has criticised the legal system after her attacker fled the country before he could be sentenced.
The woman was attacked by a man in December 2003.
Her attacker was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in January 2006, but was allowed to remain on bail before sentencing.
The man subsequently fled the country and is believed to have travelled to Brazil.
Speaking to RTÉ News, the woman said she is still in a legal limbo, and suffers an ongoing trauma.
RTÉ News has established that there are at least eight such cases, where bench warrants have been issued by the Central Criminal Court for people facing rape charges who have failed to honour their bail.
The Rape Crisis Centre tonight said it should become a mandatory provision that a person convicted of rape would be taken into custody prior to sentencing.
