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LRC seek public view on rape law and consent as a range of reform options are being considered

LRC seek public view on rape law and consent as a range of reform options are being considered

The body in charge of reviewing the law is asking whether someone should be charged with rape for not checking if their partner consented.

The Law Reform Commission is asking for the public's view on the issue as it looks at a range of reform options.

Irish law on rape says an accused is only guilty when a sexual act occurred and they knew there was no consent.

Tom O'Malley, a senior law lecturer at NUI Galway and a member of Law Reform Commission said:

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"Well this is dealing with just one aspect of the law of rape. That is the question of whether a person should be entitled to be acquitted of rape if it is found that he honestly believed that the complainant was consenting even though his belief might have been unreasonable in the circumstances."

- Digital Desk

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