Thousands protest over rape laws debacle

A tide of white flowers covered the railings and footpath outside the government building to show support for the campaign demanding the protection of children from rapists.

Young, old, men and women joined forces in response to the release of a 41-year-old man who admitted having sex with a 12-year-old girl after he plied her with alcohol.

Several other convicted sex offenders are currently challenging their jail terms.

Mum Monica Roe, who organised the rally, said: “We have showed the government we are not happy, but we do not want a quick fix.

“People feel so strongly about this. If someone as ordinary as myself can achieve this then the Government needs to do something.

“But we need to make this the beginning of something really big.”

She called for the Government to tackle the whole area of sexual abuse and turn it on its head.

Abuse survivor Colm O’Gorman, of the One in Four group, called the turnout extraordinary.

“One of the things I said five years ago was when the people of Ireland decide to say this matters, this is important and this needs to change, that’s when we will see a real change”, he said.

“For anyone who has ever experienced sexual abuse it means so much that so many people have turned out to express their solidarity, care and concern.

It is estimated up to 3,000 people attended the protest, with the numbers temporarily blocking traffic on Kildare Street.

For almost two hours survivors of sexual abuse stood side by side the ordinary citizens of Dublin demanding a change in the legislation.

It follows last week’s Supreme Court ruling that a statutory rape law introduced in 1935 was unconstitutional because it stated it was automatically a crime for a man to have sex with a girl under the age of 15.

Up to 3,000 people protested carrying white flowers to symbolise the need to protect the innocence of children.

Similar demonstrations were also taking place in Galway, Limerick, Tralee, Castlebar and Kilkenny.

Abuse victim Dermot Kelly, 55, from Lucan, Dublin said the rally gave him the opportunity to speak out.

“I was abused physically and sexually from the age of six to 12 years and I am still living with it every day of the week,” he said.

“I can never get away from it. It has affected my whole adult life, my marriage, family, and work.

“The turnout today is fantastic. I am angry and sad that a man who raped a little girl of 12 is free but I am hoping the Government will recognise how people feel and do something.”

A 56-year-old victim from North County Dublin added: “I feel very sorry for the young girl and her family. I was abused as a 12-year-old boy and never got justice for it.

“It is great how many people have come her today. It is great for her family.”

Mum Debbie Rice, 37, from Navan, County Meath felt so strongly for the girl she attended the rally with her five-year-old twins Aine and Aoife.

“I’m very angry about what has happened this week”, she said.

“I even took my children out of school to be here today because the Government didn’t know about this before now. They should have seen it coming.

“For a paedophile to get only three years in prison is disgraceful but for him to be freed early is unbelievable, that just shows how serious the issue is.”

The crowd listened to Radio 1 live over a PA system, where they heard the mother of the 12-year-old girl thank them for the strength they had given her.

Other protesters included grandmothers Ann Kelly, 50 from Crumlin and friend May O’Connor, 59, from Clondalkin.

Mrs Kelly, who has a one-year-old grandson, Lorcan, said: “We came out today to support the victims of sex abuse, parents and their daughters and sons.

“I have been sickened by what I have seen and heard this week. We want the Government to know we are all behind these people.”

Mrs O’Connor who had her 18-month-old grandson with her added: “We are disgusted by the law and that something like this could happen. We are all calling for a change.”