Dublin Rape Crisis Centre

"We were just doing stuff normal teenagers do." - Ella Hewson, speaking on RTÉ Liveline.

Listen at https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22630120/

Ella was 14 when she was s*xually assaulted at a friend's house in September 2022. Patrick Byrne, a member of the Defence Forces, was convicted at Trim Circuit Court of three counts of s*xual assault of a minor and sentenced to four years with one year suspended. Ella, now 18, waived her anonymity so that this behavior would not continue to be normalised in our society.

What she described on air will be familiar to many survivors. She withdrew from the people around her. She was openly accused of lying by friends. Through the process, she often felt as though she were the one on trial.

Ella was a child. The only person who had a case to answer was the man who assaulted her.

Ella spent four years of her adolescence carrying this. She has spoken publicly so that others might be spared it. Dublin R**e Crisis Centre stands with Ella and with every survivor who has been doubted, whether they chose or are able to come forward or not.

If you need support, our free and confidential 24-hour national helpline is here: 1800 77 8888

Become a volunteer at Dublin R**e Crisis Centre.

Healing begins with someone who listens. Every year, the National 24-Hour Helpline receives almost 24,000 contacts from survivors of s*xual violence, their supporters and frontline professionals, and trained volunteers are the reason someone answers.

Join our optional online information evening on 17 or 20 August at 7pm. Learn more here: https://www.drcc.ie/get-involved/volunteer/

"To me, volunteering means being present, offering a listening ear and being there for somebody who needs you to be there for them." That's how one of our volunteers describes the role.

We're recruiting Volunteer Crisis Counsellors for the Helpline and our webchat service. No previous experience or qualifications are needed. We provide comprehensive training delivered by professionals, monthly peer support meetings, regular check-ins and access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

What we ask: four shifts a month for at least one year, and in-person attendance at three training weekends starting 12 September 2026. You'll need to be 24 or over, live within commuting distance of Dublin city centre, and have a private space and secure broadband to take confidential calls.

Dublin R**e Crisis Centre is dismayed that the official representative of the United States Government in Ireland, Ambassador Ed Walsh, visited a pub owned by Conor McGregor, who was found civilly liable of r**e by an Irish jury.

Speaking to Crime World, our Chief Executive, Rachel Morrogh, said: "This is, unfortunately, consistent with the stance of the White House in recent years and sends a very negative message to survivors. It serves to normalise s*xual violence and even to rehabilitate Mr McGregor's image."

Acts like this tell survivors that accountability is optional and that reputation can be rebuilt without any acknowledgement of harm. "Those of us working on the front line to prevent s*xual violence and support victims and survivors see the impact of such acts daily," Rachel said.

Dublin R**e Crisis Centre will be protesting against this, and against the ways the US President has trivialised s*xual violence in the States and here in Ireland, when he visits in September.

If you have been affected by s*xual violence, recently or in the past, we are here for you. Call our free and confidential 24-hour National Helpline on 1800 77 8888.

Our CEO Rachel Morrogh spoke to Morning Ireland today about the conviction of former swimming coach George Gibney for the s*xual abuse of four young swimmers in the 1970s and 1980s.

"His day of reckoning came thanks to the tireless, courageous and determined survivors."

Rachel spoke about what this conviction means for anyone who has experienced child s*xual abuse, however long ago:

"The conviction sends an important message that there is no statute of limitations for the criminal prosecution of child s*x abuse. It's really vital that people who experienced child s*xual abuse, maybe many decades ago, know that they still have a right and a pathway to justice. There is no such thing as too long ago."

Rachel reassured listeners that delayed disclosure is normal.

"If you reach out your hand to us, we'll grab it, and we'll help you heal in whatever way is best for you."

Listen back to the full interview: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22627205/

If you have been affected by s*xual violence, recently or in the past, the Dublin R**e Crisis Centre National 24-Hour Helpline is free and confidential: 1800 77 8888.

A jury has just found former national swimming coach George Gibney guilty of 39 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted r**e, committed against four young girls more than 50 years ago.

Our CEO Rachel Morrogh said: "We welcome this conviction and recognise the long, painful and incredibly courageous journey to justice taken by his victims."

The women who gave evidence in this trial waited five decades for this day. They carried what happened to them through their whole adult lives, through years when it seemed accountability might never come.

“Like so many perpetrators of child s*xual abuse, Gibney was hidden in plain sight, yet it has taken over 50 years for him to face justice.”

The passage of years does not lessen the harm of s*xual violence, and it does not lessen the truth of what happened. It is never too late to be believed, and it is never too late to seek justice. Today's verdict is proof of that.

We also recognise the powerful role of the podcasting team who created ‘Where is George Gibney’, which brought this issue to the public’s attention again, as well as all the remarkable survivors and allies who contributed to it.

If you have been affected by anything raised by this case, you can call our national, 24-hour, free and confidential National Helpline, whether you want to report or not, and no matter how much time has passed: 1800 77 8888.