Govt under pressure to introduce new statutory rape law
The Government is coming under pressure today to introduce new legislation on statutory rape as a matter of urgency.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that Ireland's existing law in this area breaches the Constitution.
The law as it currently stands makes it an automatic crime to have sex with a girl under the age of 15.
However, the Supreme Court said this was unconstitutional as it did not allow the accused to argue that he honestly believed the girl was older.
The ruling came in a case taken by a young man who had sex with a 14-year-old girl who told him she was 16. He was 18 at the time.
Opposition parties, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Rape Crisis Network have all responded by demanding urgent government action to introduce new laws on statutory rape, as recommended by the Law Reform Commission 16 years ago.
