Historic rape - any point in reporting?

marilynrr

Hi all,

I was raped well over a decade ago. No interest in reporting for my sake as there wouldn't be a hope of him being convicted and either way I wouldn't have wanted to go through court anyway.

However, several times over the years I've wondered if I should report it simply so it would be on record in case anyone else reported him, so that it would strengthen their case. I recently heard about someone being raped and it triggered this feeling again in me as I know the man has the same job etc. Most likely it's not him at all, but I can't get the what if out of my head. I know that she reported him but they didn't prosecute. If it had been the same man and there were previous reports against him would that have strengthened her case or not been allowed in court anyway? Would the guards/DPP have pushed more if there had been previous reports?

I'm not sure if he still lives here but I know the mans first name, the country where he's from and where he used to work.

zozimus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058307564/historic-rape-any-point-in-reporting

It's difficult - a wrong was done to you and I think that reporting that is a setting a stake in the ground and stating it clearly for yourself. I've considered a similar thing - although I was very young at the time I remember the person's name (it was 48 years ago), and I have wondered if I should. The offender was fairly young too, but old enough to know what he was doing was wrong. I don't want to destroy his life, but I have asked myself if I had reported it a few decades ago would it have maybe prevented some incidents with others that I don't know about.

I think you should go and report it and have it on record. But get the support you need and take care of yourself and your emotions first.

Good luck.

Seth Brundle

Sorry to hear about that and hopefully you're doing ok.

There is no harm in having an official record of it even if you ask for nothing to be done just at the moment. It may help another victim (which hopefully there isn't!).

It might be easier to phone and make an appointment with someone in your local station to report it rather than arrive at the front desk and asking then

coylemj

There is no harm in having an official record of it even if you ask for nothing to be done just at the moment.

So anyone can go to the cops, make an accusation about someone behind their back but ask that nothing be done. And the cops will keep an 'official record' of the accusation. Can't you see that that would be an open house for blackmailers?

I don't think the police keep a record of accusations. Even if they did, they can't be used in other prosecutions and can't even be mentioned in the sentencing stage after someone is convicted. So, even if such records exist, they have no use whatsoever.

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120927134#Comment_120927134

Reporting the matter will create a record on the Garda pulse system. Such information will be available to gardai in the future and could be significant in the investigation of similar crime involving the alleged perpetrator in the future.

I have been told (by men who were dragged through legal Hell during their divorces) that allegations can be made against you, *and you do not have a right to know*. They are sitting there on your record unknown to you. That is incredible that you do not have a right to know. Utterly incredible.

I was told that to find out if there are such allegations on your record you must make data protection requests to both An Garda Síochána and Tusla. Foreewarned is forearmed so if anybody thinks things are getting shaky, make sure she doesn't have a slew of false allegations grenades for the Court, sitting on your record unknown to you.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120928580#Comment_120928580

The only way it could ever be significant is if this person makes an official complaint. I'm not sure how you think some random accusation by someone could be used in a different investigation.

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120940540#Comment_120940540

A report / official complaint, call it what you like - it will certainly be recorded on pulse and available to other members of the Garda. There is of course no finding of guilt attaching, but the information could, and likely would be considered in future related investigations.

Much more trivial information is also recorded on pulse. Intelligence - an important tool in modern policing.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120940770#Comment_120940770

Yes, actual intelligence is of importance.

A random claim by someone with absolutely no investigation is not intelligence and no it will not be considered in future investigations

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120940993#Comment_120940993

Ok so

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120928580#Comment_120928580

Might also be "handy" if they are other complaints againt this person...

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120950922#Comment_120950922

No, it won't be handy.

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120951022#Comment_120951022

Why not, it might help another victim who does want to bring charges to know they are not the first and only victim.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120951691#Comment_120951691

Because just going into a station and asking to report something, doesn't mean anything.

It cannot be verified as an actual rape because there has been no investigation and tbh, I would be very surprised if it would be recorded at all. People are entitled to find out what information is on pulse about them, Gardai can't go recording unverified rape accusations.

ThreeGreens

Thankfully nobody close to me has been in this situation (as far as I know), so I can't offer any advice from experience.

But perhaps it would help if you were simply to call into your garda station and discuss it with them, without mentioning any names. That way you'd know for a fact, how it would be dealt with, what difference your report / statement would make or not make, and what it would involve for you.

After that, you could make a better informed decision on what you want to do.

Gardai are people too, and I'm sure you'd have a lot of sympathy. They understand that this isn't an easy decision for you, and I'm sure that they would be happy to inform you of what would or would not happen following your report, before you decide do it or not.

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120951706#Comment_120951706

An individual claiming they were the victim of a sexual assault will be recorded, investigated and a prosecution may be initiated depending on the circumstances. The details will be available to other members in the future.

It is the role of the courts to decide whether a the alleged perpetrator is guilty of the the offence concerned, not the Gardai.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120954150#Comment_120954150

You obviously missed the part where the OP said they didn't want to prosecute, they are not interested in going to court.

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120954218#Comment_120954218

The complaint doesn’t get to decide whether or not the state prosecute. That is a matter for the Garda and DPP.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120954225#Comment_120954225

Sweet lord above. Which is why there is no point in going into a station to report something if she doesn't want to go to court.

It won't be logged on the system and it won't be investigated properly unless she is willing to go to court.

And, how often so you think the dpp forces victims of rape and sexual assault to give evidence against their will?