Advice if it has just happened

If you are in immediate danger, please contact the Gardaí on 999.

There is no right or wrong way to feel – you may be numb, or scared, or angry. These feelings may change over time. You may not be sure what happened, or whether it was consensual.

The information that we share here may be upsetting – please take your time looking through it and take a break when you need to.

You do not need to make any immediate decision about reporting what happened to the Gardaí.

You have a number of options if you need medical attention. One option is to see your GP. Another is to attend a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU).

Things you can do now

Call 24 Hour Helpline

If possible, get to a place that feels safe.
Try and contact someone you trust to come to be with you.
When you are somewhere safe, please call the 24 Hour Helpline on 1800 778888 for free, confidential and non-judgmental support.

Whether you ring straight away or a week later or many years later this is a support service provided by people who will listen and won’t judge you. You don’t need to explain what you’re feeling, or what happened.

There are also centres around the country which can be contacted by phone, email or by dropping in.

You do not need to make any decisions now about reporting the assault to the Gardaí or PSNI but it is a good idea to leave your options open. Here are some points to remember (Click here):

If possible, do not drink, eat, shower or go to the toilet before your SATU visit. Do not throw out or wash underwear or clothes that you were wearing at the time of the assault.

You can contact your local Rape Crisis Centre for support to help you decide whether to report the assault to the Gardaí. The trained support worker can explain what reporting involves, and what can happen afterwards. If you have concerns about reporting the assault because of an issue such as drug use, or immigration status, you can bring it up with the support worker.

They can also help you make appointments and accompany you through the process of reporting.

Remember: You do not need to make any immediate decision about reporting the assault to the Gardaí.

Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs)

Find your nearest SATU

There are six Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) across the country where you can have a forensic examination and get health advice, without contacting the Gardaí. (NB if you prefer to visit your GP, they can also provide these services, including emergency contraception).

You can phone the SATU nearest to you and make an appointment directly.
You can also make an appointment via a Rape Crisis Centre or the Gardaí.
If you are in Limerick, there is an additional out-of-hours SATU service which can be contacted through the Gardaí.

Information about visiting a SATU (Click here):

If possible, do not drink, eat, shower or go to the toilet before your SATU visit. Do not throw out or wash underwear or clothes that you were wearing at the time of the assault.

You will be asked some general health questions as well as what happened. This is only to understand how you may have been harmed, and to decide on the right physical checks and to take forensic samples.
The staff understand that it may be difficult to share the details of what happened and you won’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.
You can bring a friend or family member with you for support if you wish. You can also have a support worker with you from a Rape Crisis Centre or another service.
You can change your mind at any point and not to go ahead with the examination. You can stop or ask for a break at any time and ask questions.
Tell staff if you have consumed drugs and alcohol. The staff may arrange for blood tests within 48 hours of the incident. For urine tests, they can take place within 120 hours of the incident – these are in case you were drugged or had your drink spiked. It’s important to be tested as soon as possible.
You may be offered emergency contraception and sexual health screening.
SATUs look after everyone regardless of sex, gender or sexuality, aged 14 years and over.
If you are over 16, you can access health services at a SATU without consent from a parent or guardian – should forensic sampling be required, consent will be required from a parent or guardian for those aged between 16 and 18.

Evidence

A GP or staff at the SATU can carry out a forensic examination in order to get evidence. The best time for forensic samples to be collected is in the first 72 hours after the assault. But samples can still be collected within 7 days of the assault.
The Sexual Assault Treatment Unit can store forensic samples for up to one year. If you decide within a year to report what happened to the Gardaí, this forensic evidence will support your statement.

Rape Crisis Centres (RCCs) in Ireland

Find your nearest Rape Crisis Centre

There are 17 Rape Crisis Centres around Ireland.

A Rape Crisis Centre (RCC) is a safe space for survivors of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and childhood sexual abuse to work through trauma with specially trained counsellors and psychotherapists.

FAQs

Are help services available in other languages?

If English is not your first language, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre provides a Helpline Interpreting Service, which provides live interpreting over the phone in more than 240 languages.

Operating hours are:

Monday – Friday 8am to 6:30pm

Monday – Sunday from midnight (12am) to 8am

Click here for details of the Interpreting Service

For those who are deaf or hard of hearing, there is a text service available Monday to Friday from 8am to 6:30pm, at 086-8238443.

And lastly, if a webchat service is a better option for you, there is also a webchat service available.

Operating hours are:

Monday – Friday 10am to 5pm (excluding Bank Holidays)

It is also available from midnight to 3:00 on Tuesdays & Wednesdays.

Click here to access the Webchat Service

Are help services available for deaf or hearing impaired people?

You can ask for an interpretation service — the guards and hospitals have contracts with interpreters for provision of services.

Other services available include Bridge Interpreting and Sign Language Interpreting Services which provides emergency out of hours access to interpreters at 087 672 5179.

This service offers access to interpreters for Deaf people in medical or legal crises.

Chime, the National Charity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people also offers a range of services from emotional support to practical advice and services.

Are these services available for people under 18 years old?

Please see more on our page Help for under 18s

Are these services free of charge?

Yes. All rape crisis services provide services free of charge.

Rape Crisis Centres are funded by government but demand is always more than the funding will cover. Some centres welcome a donation from clients who can afford it.