Rape Crisis Network criticises long delay in midlands rape case

Rape Crisis Network Ireland says it's unacceptable that it took more than six years for a rape case of a 17 year old girl to reach a trial.

It follows the conviction of three young men in the Criminal Courts of Justice yesterday, who were found guilty of raping the then 17 year old in the midlands in December 2016.

A fourth man was found guilty of sexually assaulting her, while a fifth man pleaded guilty to rape before the trial started.

Cliona Saidléar, Executive Director of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, says long periods of time engaging with the criminal justice system can cause additional trauma for survivors of sexual assault.