Rise in sexual crimes

“Why should a young girl think it's okay to be groped and say nothing just because it happens all the time?”

That’s the question posed by the Director of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork Mary Crilly in light of a recent rise in reported sexual assaults and rapes in Cork. The rise coincides with recent reports of syringes being used to drug people in nightclubs and bars in Ireland and the UK.

“We have come across a couple of women who have said that they felt there were marks on their arms and their legs from a needle,” Ms Crilly told the Cork Independent. However, she said it wasn’t something the centre had come across recently, but that spiking has been an ever-present issue in Irish society.

She said: “In my experience, spiking has always happened, more with adding something to a drink or giving people stronger drinks than they want. I couldn’t keep count of the amount of beermats that were made to check if you're drink was spiked or not spiked.”

Ms Crilly said the level of tolerance of inappropriate behaviour in Irish nightlife has reached an appalling level and should be nipped in the bud before it escalates.

“Blaggarding is allowed go on, annoying people and making comments at people is allowed go on, so we need to stop it at that stage and not wait until something extremely serious happens,” she said.

Ms Crilly’s comments come following a Cork County Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting on Monday where Cork City Chief Superintendent Tom Myers said he was not aware of any reports of syringe spiking in Cork city or county.

However, he said the fact that no incidents have been reported does not mean they aren’t happening.

He said anyone who feels they have been spiked, be it through injection or ingestion, should contact gardaí immediately so that samples can be taken.

He also confirmed reports of syringe spikings in Limerick, Dublin, Derry and Belfast in recent weeks and urged people frequenting pubs and nightclubs on Leeside to be extra vigilant.

“It’s unlikely that you’ll see, taste or smell any difference. If you start to feel strange or more drunk than you should, you should get help by bringing it to the attention of a friend or a garda. Report it as soon as possible so that a blood or urine sample can be taken as most drugs leave the body within 72 hours,” said the Chief Superintendent.

He added that, while there are many reasons a person might attempt to spike a victim, it is often with the intention to carry out a sexual assault.

UCC Students’ Union Spokesperson Maeve Richardson told the Cork Independent that many students have been coming to UCC’s welfare officer seeking advice and support.

She said: “People have stated they feel more comfortable attending services such as Cork Sexual Violence Centre or ourselves in UCC Students’ Union. Many people feel a sense of shame and stigma from wider society around being spiked.”

Ms Richardson said drink spiking has been commonplace in Cork with night time venues reopening and that the UCC Students’ Union has had a number of students approach us to tell them they have been spiked.

She said the most common drugs used for spiking are GHB or Rohypnol: “These cause those who have been spiked to become nauseous, experience blackouts, vomiting and often to lose consciousness.”

The UCC Students’ Union has written an open letter to pubs and nightclubs in Cork asking them for their help in addressing the issue.

“A number of pubs have been in contact and wish to take part in UCC’s Bystander Intervention Programme which gives training in how to be an active bystander and intervene in situations of harassment,” said Ms Richardson.

Statistics issued at Monday’s JPC meeting showed a noticeable increase in reported rapes and sexual assaults across the city and county so far in 2021 when compared to the same period last year.

In Cork city, the rape of a male or a female rose from 37 to 41, while non-aggravated sexual assaults rose from 76 to 83. In Cork North, rapes dropped from 21 to 14 but non-aggravated sexual assaults more than doubled, going from 19 to 42. Rapes in Cork West went from less than ten in 2020 to 18 in 2021, while sexual assaults went from 24 to 34.