The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre marked its 30th anniversary with a conference highlighting the difficulties facing rape victims in court.
The organisation had grown out of a Reclaim the Night March to become a national organisation with a helpline and a wide-range of support services. At the conference, the centre called for changes in legal procedures to counteract low conviction rates.
In this RTÉ News report, chief executive Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop says the victims often feel that they are the ones on trial. Senator Ivana Bacik says they were very concerned that the defence was using arguments about the victim's behaviour that were prejudicial. The conference was attended by President Mary McAleese, who afterwards officially opened the new Criminal Courts of Justice.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 January 2010. The reporter is Niamh Nolan.
