#FactsNotMyths
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rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
“Sexual violence is a punishment.”

That's how our Executive Director describes it in response to the @esri.ie & Cuan's research finding that women, younger adults, bisexual people & gay men are most affected by #SexualViolence

>> www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

#FactsNotMyths
Sexual violence affects 26% of adults in Ireland, with most perpetrators being male
ESRI and Cuan research finds women, younger adults and bisexual people report higher rates, while most perpetrators are known to victims
www.irishexaminer.com
November 2, 2026 at 3:56 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Did you miss our #RethinkingRelevance symposium?

If so, why not watch a recording of Dr Sinéad Ring & Prof Vanessa Munro's speeches (with thanks to videographer @paulageraghty.bsky.social) >>

youtu.be/pt9a-wvglHs?...

#AccessToJustice #FactsNotMyths #SurvivorsRights
The Relevance Test in Practice: Evidence, Justice and Survivors’ Rights
YouTube video by Rape Crisis Ireland
youtu.be
October 16, 2026 at 12:20 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Counselling should be a safe space. Survivors shouldn’t have to fear it could be used against them in court.

George Gibney’s defence sought the complainants’ #CounsellingNotes before trial >>

www.thejournal.ie/george-gibne...

#RethinkingRelevance #FactsNotMyths #AccessToJustice
George Gibney's legal team sought counselling notes for the four complainants
The prosecution did not consider the counselling notes relevant to the case – but the defence wanted them to be used.
www.thejournal.ie
October 13, 2026 at 4:35 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
#Budget2027 includes an extra €5.3 million for #DSGBV. We welcome the increase but we mustn't forget that the historically low levels of funding to address DSGBV means we have yet to reach a minimum baseline >>

www.rapecrisisireland.ie/advocacy/pol...

#Budget2027 #FactsNotMyths #SurvivorSupport
October 8, 2026 at 3:32 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Rape shield law ‘failing to protect complainants' - report in the Law Society Gazette >>

www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-...

#RethinkingRelevance #RapeShield #RelevanceTest #AccessToJustice #SurvivorsRights #JusticeForSurvivors #FactsNotMyths
Rape shield law ‘failing to protect complainants’
www.lawsociety.ie
October 6, 2026 at 2:12 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Commitments are not enough on their own. They need to be matched with action.

Read our Key Recommendations to Government based on our 2025 statistics >> www.rapecrisisireland.ie/advocacy/pol...

#ZeroTolerance #FactsNotMyths #JusticeForSurvivors #SupportingSurvivors #EndSexualViolence
September 8, 2026 at 4:33 PM
becomingme.bsky.social
If Iron Age knowledge is useless for medicine, food safety, engineering, education, law, and psychology—why should we trust it for morality, politics, or human rights?
#SeparationChurchAndState #FactsNotMyths #Rationality #Logic #NotStoriesThatPacify

www.facebook.com/563937900/po...
Rod Olson
Iron Age Thinking in 2025 Would You Trust It Anywhere Else? Religious observers, those who claim that Iron Age texts—written ONLY by men who KNEW: — the Earth was flat — disease was caused by...
www.facebook.com
February 7, 2025 at 7:59 AM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
A recording of our 'Beyond the Margins: Sexual Violence, Disability and Other Compounding Barriers' event, including the launch of our #RapeCrisisStatistics2025, is available with #ISL interpretation at this link >>

youtu.be/kK3vziaB80Y?...

#BeyondTheMargins #SexualViolence #FactsNotMyths
Beyond the Margins (with ISL interpretation)
YouTube video by Rape Crisis Ireland
youtu.be
July 24, 2026 at 3:50 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
The Commission of Investigation into the activities of Michael Shine must begin without delay.

Survivors have waited decades for this; they should not have to wait longer than necessary for the truth >>

www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

#SurvivorJustice #SurvivorRights #FactsNotMyths #SexualViolence
Govt agrees to investigation into paedophile Shine
The Government has agreed to set up a Commission of Investigation into the activities of prolific paedophile Michael Shine.
www.rte.ie
July 16, 2026 at 4:20 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
We welcome the new Oireachtas Special Committee on Preventing & Responding to #DSGBV.

Our member centres received 15,134 helpline contacts last year - up 15.4% on 2024. Much more needs to be done to stem the tide of #SexualViolence in Ireland >>

www.thejournal.ie/oireachtas-c...

#FactsNotMyths
New Oireachtas committee on domestic and sexual violence to begin work in autumn
The new committee, which replaces the committee on drugs, will have a two-year remit.
www.thejournal.ie
July 15, 2026 at 1:50 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
For #SexualViolence survivors with disabilities, raising a concern can depend entirely on someone else asking, noticing or believing them.

No-one should have to choose between support specific to their community & specialist trauma support. Survivors deserve both.

#BeyondTheMargins #FactsNotMyths
June 23, 2026 at 4:47 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
#SexualViolence is not inevitable. It is preventable.

Over the next 5 years, we will centre survivors, hold systems to account & build the movement Ireland needs - as outlined in our new strategy >>

www.rapecrisisireland.ie/wp-content/u...

#EndSexualViolence #JusticeForSurvivors #FactsNotMyths
June 11, 2026 at 5:50 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
We support the Section 19A amendments but the Bill still has gaps & Report Stage is the time to close them.

Read our op-ed in today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social ⬇️

www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

#JusticeForSurvivors #FactsNotMyths #SexualViolence #CounsellingNotes
The counselling room is not a court room: Bill must protect sexual violence survivors' right to fair trial
Rape Crisis Ireland supports the changes to the law on counselling notes, but they need more work
www.irishexaminer.com
June 10, 2026 at 5:26 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Did you know you can make a complaint to Fiosrú on someone else's behalf?

Thank you to Darren Wright from Fiosrú for sharing this and so much more with staff across the #SexualViolence sector as part of our new #SkillsFeed series.

#SurvivorSupport #JusticeForSurvivors #FactsNotMyths
April 23, 2026 at 2:14 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Our Executive Director features in a new piece published by the European Institute for Gender Equality, making the case for why criminalising sex without consent must be the next step for every country in Europe >> eige.europa.eu/newsroom/new...

#ConsentIsEverything #FactsNotMyths
Why criminalising sex without consent must be the next step for all of Europe
Across the EU, women continue to experience sexua
eige.europa.eu
April 14, 2026 at 6:46 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Listen back to our Executive Director speaking on Newstalk about what Natalie McNally's death reveals about the culture that enabled it >>

www.goloudplayer.com/episodes/how...

#EndViolenceAgainstWomen #FactsNotMyths
How can we resolve violence against women?
Yesterday, a verdict was reached in the case of the murder of 32-year-old Natalie McNally. Speaking outside the court, Natalie McNally’s brother said “Violence against women and girls is the shame of ...
www.goloudplayer.com
March 25, 2026 at 7:39 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Our Executive Director, Dr Cliona Saidléar, praised Giséle Pelicot for challenging the narrative around victim-blaming, turning shame from a private matter into a public matter on last night's @rte.ie 'Prime Time'

Watch back here >> www.rte.ie/player/serie...

#EndTheShame #FactsNotMyths
Prime Time 2026-02-24
Drugged and raped by her husband and tens of other men, Gisele Pelicot tells us her story in her only Irish broadcast interview. Watch Prime Time 2026-02-24 on RTÉ Player for free
www.rte.ie
February 25, 2026 at 4:56 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Watch @rte.ie Prime Time at 9.35pm tonight to hear an interview with Gisèle Pelicot - a woman whose courage has resonated with #SexualViolence survivors around the world - and a follow up with our Executive Director, Dr Cliona Saidlear.

#FactsNotMyths #JusticeForSurvivors #EndSexualViolenceNow
February 24, 2026 at 12:19 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Rape Crisis Ireland is no longer active on X.

Stay connected with us on these platforms:

Bluesky >> @rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
LinkedIn >> @Rape Crisis Ireland
Facebook >> @RapeCrisisIreland
Instagram >> @rape_crisis_ireland

Thank you for your support!

#FactsNotMyths #SupportingSurvivors
January 8, 2026 at 6:36 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Harrowing accounts from children of sexual exploitation by parents about being ‘forced to watch and make pornography’ published by ISPCC >>

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...

#CSA #FactsNotMyths #SurvivorSupport
Children contacting charity about being ‘forced to watch and make pornography’
ISPCC publishes harrowing accounts from children of sexual exploitation by parents as part of its Christmas Childline appeal
www.irishtimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:58 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
**Our 2024 Statistics Report is now on our website!**

Based on data captured from our member #RapeCrisis centres across Ireland via Mosaic – our recently upgraded data collection system - this is vital #DataForChange >>

rapecrisisireland.ie/research/sta...

#FactsNotMyths #CloseTheDisclosureGap
November 11, 2025 at 12:10 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Perpetrators of #SexualViolence can be anyone. They can come from any country, any social group & may be found in any setting.

More than 82% of perpetrators were known to survivors seeking counselling from our member #RapeCrisis centres in 2024

#FactsNotMyths #SupportingSurvivors
October 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Sexual assault on women ‘profoundly’ affects nerve connections in the brain with 70% of #SexualViolence survivors developing PTSD symptoms, according to new research >>

www.independent.ie/irish-news/h...

#FactsNotMyths #SurvivorSupport
Sexual assault on women ‘profoundly’ hurts brain function, study finds
Women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following sexual assault experience “profound” disruptions of nerve connections in the brain, a new study revealed.
www.independent.ie
October 15, 2025 at 2:32 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
Our Executive Director outlines in today's @independent.ie how #SexualViolence is baked into pornography & how we have a duty to protect children from its harms >>

www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...

#IDG2025 #DayoftheGirl #SexualViolenceAwareness #FactsNotMyths
Clíona Saidléar: Pornography creating a darker world for girls as violence permeates web content
‘The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the front lines of crisis” is the theme of this year’s International Day of the Girl today. Coming the day after World ­Mental Health Day yesterday, this Un...
www.independent.ie
October 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
rapecrisisireland.bsky.social
We look forward to welcoming counsellors & psychotherapists from #RapeCrisis & #SexualViolence centres across Ireland to our Specialist Sexual Violence Training for Counsellors, which kicks off tomorrow!

#SexualViolenceAwareness #FactsNotMyths #SupportingSurvivors
October 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM