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IN THE AFTERMATH of a rape trial that saw a former Ros na Rún actor convicted of orally raping a young woman the Rape Crisis Network has outlined ways that victims of sexual violence could be better protected during trials.
Garrett Phillips was convicted of orally raping the then 20-year-old woman on the outskirts of Galway city in the early hours of November 5, 2015. He had pleaded not guilty to the offence and has no previous convictions.
In her victim impact statement the woman said the court process, during which she had to sit inches away from her attacker, was one of the hardest things she has ever had to do.
The woman said she was forced to speak about something painful and made to feel like a liar when giving her evidence over two days.
Clíona Saidléar of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) said the case illustrates the extreme pressure trials can put on the victims of sexual violence.
She said that there are a measures that could be taken to make the courts process easier for victims.
“You could cut down on delay without impacting due process. You could cut down on cross-examination without impacting on due process,” she said.
We really need to learn to support survivors whose lives are being put on hold. It’s a very difficult space and we need to learn to handle that better.
Describing her personality before the attack the woman described how she had been “ultimately happy” with “no major struggles”. “I wasn’t afraid of anything, I was indestructible,” she said.
She revealed that she still takes medication for depression and anxiety and does not feel safe walking alone or sometimes in her own home.
She said because of the court process taking so long and being “attacking to victims” she was made to feel that the incident was her fault. She said she lost a lot of friends and her family relationships have also suffered.
It’s not my fault, this wasn’t supposed to happen to me, but it did and here I am.
With reporting by Aoife Nic Ardghail
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I lived in Galway for 3 years before moving to Dublin. It rained for most of the 3 years. The difference in weather between the two cities is hard to believe.
I’m here matey. The most miserable place to be in the depths of winter. That’s why everyone drinks so much here.
Spot on Liam, there was only one sunny day in Galway this year, July 1st.`
The Independent will have a piece today saying biblical flooding is on the way, “according to expert sources”.
Who’s going to be out shopping in mantainous regions???….
* mountainous.
Stupid butty finger syndrome. ..
Tom. Most people forget that in the west, we get whats out in the atlantic first. So every storm etc has abated by the time it hits inland and the east. You’d be worse off without the west.
It’s easily been raining in Galway since the start of December, possibly getting worse, cabin fever on the way !
As long as there is no snow and ice I do not care
Spotted a great headline in the local newspaper in an episode of Mrs. Brown’s Boys, it read “More weather on the way”, reading this article I see where that humour came from.
Lousy in Galway at the minute but a brolly is pointless, windier that the aftermath of a bean fest.
It’s something to do with the weather I think
Sunny in Waterford, a lot of people shopping in t-shirts and shorts……
Go to Dublin n shop!
Raining in Dublin too
Last week, they told us to get ready for the coldest snap since the 60s & now this. Meanwhile, accuweather.com is predicting sunny spells & 9º in my area for Xmas Day. I really wish the media would stop trying to give people the shits.
You’ve written an article about the West with a hashtag #miserable. Bit harsh Sinead.
One day last year I went to Galway it pi ssed rain the whole day it was like winter and cold. In Dublin it was warm and sunny. For such a small island the difference in weather. The west certainly does get the worse weather in Ireland.
During the summer, I left Dublin at about 11am one morning to head to Galway and there was an 11 degree (C) difference in temperature by the time I got there. It was far warmer in Galway.
A lot if rubbish comments here I traveled from Galway to Dublin on Wednesday 9deg all the way to the midlands got to Dublin and it was monkeys next day was worse , the Atlantic breeze is warmer than any other in winter, and in Ireland history tells largest cattle owners brought there stock to Clare because it was the warmest in winter this is before is before Vikings or Brits ever landed on the island
Photos doing the rounds of snow in Lucan in the early hours of this morning
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