‘Clothes are not consent’: Protest held in Limerick over rape trial

A RALLY to protest victim blaming took place in the city centre this Wednesday, with an additional one in Charleville.

It comes following a recent case in the Central Criminal Court where a barrister representing a man in a rape trial said the jury should reflect on the underwear worn by a teenage girl.

The 27-year-old was found not guilty of the incident, but it has led to a huge backlash, with crowds in Limerick joining several more across the country.

At the protest in Thomas Street, crowds chanted ‘clothes are not consent’, while underwear was presented with posters stating ‘This is not consent’.

Among the attendees was Mayor James Collins, who said: “It is shameful barristers think it's okay to suggest a woman was asking to be raped by virtue of the clothes she wears. We need to change the law to stop this happening.”

He made the point the reporting rate for rapes is around 10%, with the conviction rate just half.

“How can we as a society expect victims to come forward in the hope of justice, knowing that they are going to face this level of disgusting, invasive, and wrong scrutiny,” he asked, “We rightly condemn radio presenters who make comments like this, yet an officer of the court can say far worse to get their client off. The law can and should be changed here.”

1/6 I went along to fully support the protests in Limerick today over the blaming of rape victims in court. It is shameful barristers think it's ok to suggest a woman was asking to be raped by virtue of the clothes she wears. We need to change the law to stop this happening. pic.twitter.com/Ooxyae3sk1

— Mayor James Collins (@jamesjcollins) November 14, 2018

He urged more resources for the victims and more resources for the courts in order ​for justice to be seen to be served much more quickly than it currently is.