Rape Crisis Centre services ‘filleted’

Loretta McDonagh (right), Acting Director of Services at Mayo Rape Crisis Centre, is pictured with Ruth McNeely, who retired as Director of Services last year. Pic: Conor McKeown

Government funding cutbacks have filleted some essential services

Áine Ryan

FOR 21 years Mayo Rape Crisis Centre (MRCC) has worked below the radar in providing an oasis for victims of sexual abuse. In some cases this Castlebar-based service is now working with a third generation of victims of sexual abuse who come from across all sectors of County Mayo’s citizenry from Belmullet to Ballinrobe, Charlestown to Louisburgh.
In 2014 alone, this crisis centre responded to 1,410 calls and  made 1,157 counselling appointments for women, men, children and older people.
Alarmingly, however, as December 2015 approaches, MRCC still does not know what its funding allocation, by Tusla, the State’s Child and Family Agency, will be for 2016.  
“Government reduced funding to the sexual violence sector year-on-year since 2008,” explains Loretta McDonagh, Acting Director of MRCC. “It has been cut back ten per cent since then, and as a result we now have a massive bank overdraft. To pay that overdraft, in terms of interest and charges, we have had to reduce our outreach services, especially in Ballina.”
The Acting Director told The Mayo News that ‘outreach programmes are a crucial part of rural rape crisis services’ because geographical isolation means ‘some victims cannot access the supports they need’.
“If there is one thing we have learned over the years, it is that when people get access to a space to heal and recover ... they often take on key roles in helping us prohibit sexual violence in their community,” she continues.
Citing a section of the EU’s Victims’ Directive, signed up to by the Government, Ms McDonagh argues that MRCC is ‘doing the work of the Government and trying to help them meet their obligations to victims of sexual violence’ as stipulated.
This EU directive says: “Member States shall take measures to establish free of charge and confidential specialist support services in addition to, or as an integrated part of, general victim support services …”
“This is what we are,” says Loretta. “So, if I could speak to the Taoiseach, I would tell him we need the 2008 funding levels reinstated, so we can return to those vital aspects of our work which include outreach, support, advocacy and education.”
The sordid and complex problem of sexual violence has been exposed through government-commissioned reports into institutional ill-treatment of vulnerable children and adults, while subsequent media coverage has put a spotlight on the issues over the last decade or so. But the problem persists.   
This insidious abuse of power can have tentacles anywhere: in schools, churches, family homes, asylum centres, and in back streets or bedrooms late at night when the concept of ‘consent’ can become confused in a cloud of alcohol or drugs.

Club Stars’ chosen charity
THE fact that MRCC is one of the two chosen charities to benefit from next month’s Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars awards is, Ms McDonagh suggests, ‘a real opportunity’ for the many male recipients ‘to stand with MRCC in challenging the prevalence of sexual violence in our communities’.  
“We are so delighted that The Mayo News has chosen such a worthwhile charity which has provided a service to so many people. We hope it gives courage to those people whose lives have been touched by this crime and because of shame and secrecy have never been able to talk about it, to come forward,” she adds.
 
Corporate and community support
IT is almost a year since MRCC faced another major challenge to its future due to significant structural problems – floors collapsing, dry rot, rising damp, roof replacement –  at its discreetly located premises in Castlebar. The response to its fundraising drive was fantastic, says Loretta, with €45,000 raised in ten months to carry out the essential repairs. Financial and other supports were given by Mayo County Council, community groups, small businesses and individuals, The service’s Nollaig na mBan event, which celebrates the county’s most inspirational woman, helped raise money as well as the morale of the organisation.

Date for your diary
December 11
The Mayo News/O’Neills Club Stars ceremony takes place in Knockranny House Hotel, Westport on Friday, December 11. All proceeds will be donated to the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre and Cystic Fibrosis West. Tickets, costing a60, are available from 098 25311.

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