The number of victims of sexual violence who have sought support at the Ennis office of Rape Crisis MidWest more than doubled last year.
The organisation says 45 people accessed their Clare-based service last year – up from 21 in 2017
It’s putting the rise is down to a number of factors, including greater awareness prompted by the Belfast Rape Trial.
Rape Crisis Midwest supports survivors of sexual violence through its offices in Ennis, Nenagh and Limerick.
254 people attended the three centres last year, up by 13% on the year before, but in Ennis the numbers attending more than doubled to 45.
There, counselling is offered by appointment, two days each week.
Because 80 percent of people attending seek support for abuse suffered in the past, Rape Crisis Midwest says the figures don’t necessarily indicate an increased incidence of sexual violence.
The organisation believes there are a number of reasons for the spike – including the increased availability of counselling hours in the county town.
It also cites an increase in awareness of sexual violence prompted by the high-profile Belfast Rape Trial, in which all of the accused including rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding were acquitted in March.
That same month, Rape Crisis Midwest received a record-breaking 5-thousand once-off donations and also recorded an increase of a third in calls to its helpline, the number for which is 1800 311 511.
