A woman's eight-hour return journey from Tralee to Waterford for examination after an alleged sexual assault has been described as disgraceful by Kerry Rape Crisis Centre director Vera O'Leary.
The woman had to travel to Waterford because there was no forensic examiner available at the South Infirmary-Victoria hospital in Cork.
The alleged sexual assault happened early last Sunday in Rock Street, Tralee. Gardaí have appealed for information from the public and in particular from taxi drivers.
The sexual assault treatment unit at Kerry General Hospital closed three years ago. Since then, victims have had to take the four-hour return journey to Cork to be treated. Up to 60 assault victims a year come forward, but it results in few prosecutions.
"It is disgraceful that someone who has suffered a horrific trauma has to spend a whole day travelling to and from an examination unit. I would have a huge concern this is going to stop people reporting," Ms O'Leary said.