FIGURES RELEASED BY the Rape Crisis Network have detailed the outcome of pregnancies which occured as a result of rape in Ireland.

A total of 1,545 survivors of sexual violence attended rape crisis centres around the country in 2010. Of these, 75 became pregnant as a result of rape.

Forty-three of the women (57 per cent) went on to parent their child. Ten (13 per cent) chose to terminate their pregnancies while ten chose to place their child up for adoption or fostering.

Nine of the women (12 per cent) miscarried or had stillbirths. Three (4 per cent) became pregnant more than once as a result of rape and chose different options in each pregnancy.

“RCNI would have concerns that any rape survivor would be subject to restrictions and would have to travel oversees to another jurisdiction in order to access a termination,” said Fiona Neary, the director of the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland.

The figures were released to coincide with an event organised by the Irish Family Planning Association and the National Women’s Council of Ireland to mark the lack of action on reproductive rights in Ireland in the 20 years since the X case.

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