Figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show over 70 per cent of victims of sexual assaukt in 2022 knew the suspected offender.
CSO figures show 71 per cent of victims of sexual assault in 2022 knew the suspected offender, while 67 per cent of victims of attempts/threats to murder and assaults also knew the suspected offender.
In 2023, 81 per cent of reported incidents of sexual offences were female and 49 per cent of victims were under 18 when the incident took place.
63 per cent of victims of sexual offences in 2023 were within a year of occurrence, with 21 per cent of referred incidents occurred over 10 years ago.
99 per cent of suspected offenders of sexual offences recorded in 2022 were men.
60 per cent of victims of assault in 2023 were men, with 68 per cent of victims of harassment were women.
Men comprise 85 per cent of offenders in cases of homicide and 81 per cent in cases of attempted or threats to murder, assault, harassment and related offences.
Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, said: “Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) hopes that the figures released today send a message to anyone who has experienced any form of sexual violence by someone they know, that they are not alone. DRCC crisis counsellors working on the 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline (1800 77 88 88) have a wealth of experience in supporting thousands of victims every year and our message is to please reach out to us because we are here to listen and support.
“The publication of this data today sits within the wider context of the overall prevalence of sexual violence in Ireland. Last year the CSO reported that one in two women and one in four men experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
"The data also showed that more than 1 in 2 people would never tell another person about it, and fewer still feel supported to report their experience of sexual violence to An Garda Siochana. Therefore, the statistics on Recorded Crime Victims and Suspected Offenders published today are only part of the picture.
“In its experience of supporting victims over the past 45 years, DRCC knows there are barriers to making a report to An Garda Síochána. The CSO data published in May 2023 found women were more likely to say that they felt ashamed or embarrassed (34 per cent) as a reason for not disclosing to the gardaí than men (22 per cent).
"Women were also more likely to identify that they did not go to the gardaí as they blamed themselves for what happened (26 per cent) than men (17 per cent).
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
