According to the Central Statistics Office, one in every five women in Ireland is raped, and a shocking half of women have been sexually assaulted. Of all the reports to the garda, only 14% make it to the courts, and from that percentage, up to 90% end in something other than conviction. 

Unfortunately, there’s been more and more cases of women being victims of crimes and the perpetrators are let away scot free. I’ve highlighted just a few cases in which no charges were given, despite the offender being charged with sexual or physical assault.

Marius Lacatus (32) was charged with sexual assault and assault causing harm - He was granted bail. 

Cathal Crotty (22) beat Natasha O’Brien so severely that he broke her nose - He faced no jail time. 

An asylum seeker, who had to remain anonymous, raped a woman at the Active Enis Lesiure Centre - He was granted bail 

Michael Nolan (54) - pleaded guilty to indecent assault of a young girl - He was granted a suspended sentence

Paul O’Brien (47) - Found guilty of six counts of sexual assault of a child - Was honourably discharged from the army and ONLY faced 3 years. 

The sheer amount of cases where abusers aren’t sentenced sends out a message that they’re protected. Why are we allowing criminals to get away with the brutalisation of women? What kind of message is that sending? Enough is enough. 

The women of Ireland need harsher sentences so that they can be protected. We shouldn’t have to live in fear. By implementing harsher sentences for rapists and abusers, we send out a message that that behaviour is not tolerated in Ireland. And with rape, sexual assault, and abuse reports rising, the need for justice is at an all time high. 

Do not let the women of Ireland suffer at the hands of rapists and abusers.