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THE DUBLIN RAPE Crisis Centre has stated that Ireland’s law on consent needs to be strengthened.
In its judgment today, the Supreme Court considered the meaning of consent. It found that an honest belief of consent would be a good defence for an accused, even if the belief is unreasonable.
CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Noeline Blackwell said:
“The Supreme Court was asked if in a situation where a person claims honest belief, if they genuinely believe that a woman has consented, must the law take that into account – even if it’s irrational and unreasonable? And the Supreme Court said ‘Yes, if it’s a genuine belief’.”
Speaking to Drivetime on RTE Radio 1, Blackwell said, “The real heart of this question was, what if a man genuinely believes a woman consents – is that a good defence? Even if the belief is kind of off the wall?
What the judges said was ‘Yes, if a man genuinely beliefs that the woman gave consent, then no matter how unreasonable that belief is, then it is a good defence and he will not be convicted of rape.
She added that this is very different to the way that they approach it in other countries where you have to take it into account if the accused believed they had consent, but the belief has to be rational to some extent.
In a statement today Blackwell also noted that the court had gone into some detail to consider the credibility challenges that an accused will face if claiming an honest belief of consent.
She also called for the Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to include a statutory definition of consent in the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 currently going through the Dáil.
Blackwell said, “Given that it took a question to a seven-judge Supreme Court to give us an up to date answer on the Irish law on consent, and given that the answer is still very complex and case specific, it is more important than ever that the legislature would use the legislation currently going through the Dáil on sexual offence to clarify what is meant by consent.
“They should also ensure that they take the chance to improve our law so that it is entirely clear that a belief of consent must be real and well grounded in reality.”
Anyone who may be affected by this story can call the National 24-hour helpline on 1800 77 88 88.
Married twice in the space off 4 years good lad . I presume the other two we’re equally as stupid as the slender brunette in the picture with him
It turned out one of them only married him in the hopes of getting his body after his death, presumably to make money from it. He was supposedly left heartbroken as a result of this.
If those murders were committed in Ireland he probably wouldn’t have spent a day in jail as he was never present at any of the murders.. Manson himself was neglected and abused as a child, he was placed in a childs detention center from his early teens and was sexually abused from around the same age.. To be fair he never got a start in life and considering he was never present at any of the murders I’d say he would have got off scot free over here..
He wasn’t present at the tate murders and the next murder. It’s untrue to say he wasnt present at other murders.
John he wasn’t present at any murders carried out by the Manson Family..
@Cosmo Kramer: most definitely was at at least one
They didn’t let him out because he might run for President. He has all the qualifications required.
Maniac
2000
She walked across the dance floor that night..
She was a sexy lady
@Eye_c_u: She had to get her thrill
@Liam O’Reilly: “It was the heat of the moment”
Sorry I was thinking of a different song.
How come these nutcases attract beautiful women?
Hint, they’re also nutcases
@Mr Snuffleupagus: He plays guitar.
It is frightening to see the kind of women that are attracted to him. The original Mason Family had would seemed like normal well educated people. Particularly gorgeous women in the Mason Family he used to get into places, a lot of dark people out there.
The idiots think they can change/save/understand him. Pick whichever.
@prop joe: yeah but the manson girls were very very young and he was in his 40′s and filling them with LSD and bulls*it…and i doubt he was taking any himself. A master manipulator and bad bad man. Doris Tate will be disappointed he will die of old age.
The one in the photo is not all that beautiful, to be fair.
Do ya think if he was a bus driver she would be with him ..look at the head on hin !!
@Mr Snuffleupagus: They always did?
Still looks as evil as ever
Interesting how Manson’s idea of pitting one race against another seems to be a standard political tool nowadays….
He should only be transferred to a morgue.
No loss
Hopefully he’ll die in agony.
Or even better karma is that one of the hospital workers is related to one of his victims…..
The video interviews of him on utube are mesmerising. He would have you convinced he did nothing wrong and the world did him wrong.
@Shane Kenny: Theres a podcast called you must remember this and there are a few episodes about manson, his followers and the history of it all. Very good listening if you’re interested!
Frankly, I couldn’t give a fcuk!!
Should be burried at sea in a Dybbuk box rather than a coffin?
Catherine Tate wasn’t far off the mark!!!
Push him along asap
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