Updated 10.44pm
GARDAÍ HAVE CONFIRMED they are investigating a complaint made by a 20-year-old student that she was sexually assaulted in the Phoenix Park on Tuesday.
The complaint was made to Cabra garda station in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The matter is under investigation and no arrests have been made according to gardaí.
The Union of Student’s of Ireland and the Rape Crisis Network Ireland have issued a statement following the alleged rape saying that no matter the circumstances people should not be afraid to report incidents to the gardaí.
“Having sex with someone who cannot consent, because they are too drunk or are in fear, is rape,” said Denise McCarthy of the USI. “It is never the fault of the victim even if they have been drinking or taking drugs. It is important that victims feel that they can report an incident no matter what the context.”.
McCarthy urged people to make a habit of noting the name or license number of a taxi driver at the start of a journey, something echoed by Fiona Neary of the RCNI:
Taxi drivers are professionals providing a service. The nature of the service means taxi drivers often provide a service to people who are vulnerable. It should be the case that sexual innuendo or conduct of any kind is not tolerated from either driver or passenger.
Neary added that behaviour need not necessarily be criminal to warrant a report. Any behaviour by a taxi driver which is inappropriate, particularly sexually, or which makes a passenger uncomfortable should be reported to the Transport Authority she said.
Additional reporting Rónan Duffy
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