SINN Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan has repeated calls for a dedicated sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) to be established in Limerick.
Deputy Quinlivan recently wrote to the HSE seeking clarity on what facilities are available when a forensic examination is required.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, Deputy Quinlivan encouraged each and every survivor of sexual assault to come forward.
“It is vital for their attackers to feel the full force of the law,” he said.
“However, there is a serious deficiency here in Limerick, and I must acknowledge deficiencies in the system when they are present. The lack of a dedicated SATU in Limerick is one of those deficiencies.”
Deputy Quinlivan pointed out that, at present, if a sexual assault occurs in Limerick, the forensic exam is carried out in an outpatient clinic room after clinics have finished and cleaning has taken place.
“This means if someone is assaulted during the day, they may have to wait until 7pm at the earliest for a forensic exam. Depending on the assault, this may mean they cannot eat or drink until then, and they may be sitting in clothes they wore when the assault took place, which is undoubtedly further traumatising for them,” he said.
“Worse still, the HSE confirmed to me in the last number of days that they do not have current plans to establish a SATU in Limerick.”
The Limerick TD said that “simply put, this just is not good enough”.
“Forensic exams are often a key component in cases that are taken through the courts. That an area the size of Limerick, and the wider Mid West, does not have its own dedicated SATU available is beyond belief, but the HSE now declaring they do not have plans to establish a unit in Limerick is unacceptable.
“We need to support those navigating the criminal justice system when they have been sexually assaulted. Forcing someone who has survived a sexual assault to wait for an available room after the assault is no way to treat a survivor of domestic violence or any other assault. I will continue raising this entirely unacceptable situation until the HSE put it right.”
In response to Quinlivan’s letter to the HSE, the health service said that that there are currently no plans to establish a SATU in Limerick.