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Alcohol a major factor in failure of rape cases

A major reason why the Director of Public Prosecutions does not prosecute in alleged rape cases is because the complainant is unable to recall the alleged offence or the details of it as a result of intoxication.

According to the DPP’s latest annual report published yesterday, in the vast majority of alleged rape cases no prosecution is mounted as there is insufficient evidence. Where cases were not prosecuted for insufficiency of evidence a major reason was intoxication, where the complainant could not recall clearly the alleged offence or the details of it. Questions also arose concerning whether the complainant’s account was credible and reliable.