Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)

These are the words of a remarkably strong words of a teenager from west Cork after her rapist was jailed yesterday for six years:

I could see my house just before he dragged me down the shortcut and started doing unimaginable things to me ... It made me feel so defeated - if it can happen so close to home it can happen anywhere.

Aged just 17 when she was attacked as she walked a short distance home, she told the court yesterday that she thought she was going to die. She spoke out because she wanted other victims of sexual violence to know that they are not alone. I want to commend on her incredible bravery.

See this speech in context