25% Of People Treated At Sexual Assault Units Were Under 18.

Wednesday, 30 June 2021 09:03

A total of 734 patients were treated in these units last year,

24 per cent of the people treated in sexual assault treatment units last year were under 18.

According to a new annual report, 20 victims were over the age of 55.

Eoghan Murphy reports:

"734 patients were treated in the HSE's six sexual assault treatment units last year.

277 were seen in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, with the next highest being the 111 in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork.

The units in Mullingar, Galway, Letterkenny and Waterford all saw at least 78 patients each.

In total, 92 per cent of the victims were female, and 8 per cent were male.

12 victims were less than 14 years old, 77 were aged between 14 and 16, and 87 were between 16 and 18.

Six were over the age of 70.

9 per cent of the assaults were committed by multiple attackers. "

The pandemic has dispelled any 'myths' that sexual violence can be related back to alcohol consumption, according to a leading gynaecologist.

National Clinical Lead with the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit is Dr Maeve Eogan, she says its proof that sexual assault doesn't just happen in certain settings:

*TW 1 in 4 people who sought treatment for a sexual assault in 2020 were under 18. SATU's @meogan even during a global pandemic sexual crime continued to occur with our @Noeline_B adding lockdowns had a significant impact on therapists capacity to work. https://t.co/CaeRqbknvv
— Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (@DublinRCC) June 30, 2021

While there was a 22 percent decrease in the numbers presenting at a sexual assault treatment unit last year compared to 2019.

Kacey O'Riordan reports.

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