UCD block student who was raped from finishing medical studies, but rapist was allowed to continue

A UCD student was forced to drop out of her medicine course after being raped and falling pregnant, yet her rapist was allowed to continue studying. 

The issue was raised in the Dáil by TD Ruth Coppinger.

In 2023, a medical student was raped and became pregnant.

Images of the girl "nude, bruised, and unconscious" after the rape were then shared by her perpetrator, according to The Journal.

She requested that the university allow her to sit her exams at a later date, as she had terminated the pregnancy that had resulted from being raped.

"She asked UCD could she resit the exams over the summer, UCD said no and they attempted to make her drop back a year," Deputy Coppinger said.

READ NEXT: Two major health insurance companies announce price hikes of up to 11% from April

If the girl were to drop back a year, she would be in the same classes as her rapist, who was also a medical student.

She then took UCD to the High Court in an attempt to stop the university from forcing her to be in the same year as her rapist, but she lost the case.

"UCD fought the case, won, and two weeks after the second case of image abuse against her, they pursued the rape victim for a couple of hundred thousand in costs against her," Deputy Coppinger continued.

"She hasn't been able to continue her medical degree since 2023, as UCD blocked her from doing so," she added. 

Deputy Coppinger requested that something be done to help the girl to complete her studies as soon as possible to stop her being "further punished for being the victim." 

Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers, responded to say that the girl has "been through enough" and should be supported by government and other institutions to complete her studies.

It's understood that the rapist has suffered no consequences.