‘I too got in the taxi. I too expected safety. I too was raped’ – support for victims grows as people share stories on social media

She said it was vital that victims, particularly those who may have been intoxicated or have taken drugs, “never blame themselves”.

It comes as a person who claimed they had been raped by a taxi driver shared their experience on the We-Consent Instagram page.

We-Consent is a national initiative run by Dublin Rape Crisis and supported by the Department of Justice, the Department of Children and Community Foundation Ireland.

The person, who posted about their experience in the wake of Raymond Shorten’s conviction for the rape of two young female passengers two years ago, said they were doing so in solidarity with the two victims, in a bid to stop sexual assaults and rapes.

Shorten (50) of Melrose Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one of anal rape by a jury at the Central Criminal Court.

The person told followers: “I wrote this poem after hearing of the guilty verdict in a current court case with a taxi driver and two separate victims. It can help when others get justice.”

The poem ‘Me-Too Taxi Driver’ reads: “I too have been where you two have been. I too went out with friends. I too had one too many. I too got in the taxi. I too expected safety. I too was raped.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre welcomes conviction of rapist taxi driver

“Followed in through my front door by a taxi driver who wanted more than the fare that I had paid him.

“I reported my assault. I too made my statement. Then our stories diverge. My case went nowhere. My trauma went inwards.

“My anger turned septic. My shame imploded. My mother does not know.

“My taxi driver will never hear the judgment of a jury and probably never even felt guilt. But he raped me and in the court of my mind, the jury is unanimous, he is guilty, guilty, guilty.”

Ms Morrogh praised the person for sharing their experience.

“Hopefully this verdict has sent a message that this was never your fault,” Ms Morrogh said.

“The fault never lies with victims. Blame entirely lies with predators like this, (Shorten) who are seeking vulnerabilities, so they can commit sexual offences.

“If you’re unconscious or incapable of consenting, you’re drunk, or have taken drugs, or are sleeping, you can’t consent to that act and that’s the law. It’s a crime to have sex with someone without their consent.

“If people understood and practised consent, fewer people would experience sexual violence. And that’s where we want to get to.”

Regarding the relatively small ­number of rape and sexual offence allegations after taxi journeys, Ms Morrogh said: “We don’t want to scare people from getting taxis.”

She said the issue is a concern for parents of young women, and that mothers and fathers had always believed that taxis are “safe spaces”.

“That this taxi driver (Shorten) took advantage of that trust and committed a very serious crime that will have a profound effect on the young women for the rest of their lives… it broke trust,” said Ms Morrogh.

“The women are so brave to come forward. They were 19 or 20 when the rapes took place in 2022.

“We were just out of Covid and encouraged to go out and socialise. The end of their teenage years would have been spent in Covid.

“Then this happened to them when they were out celebrating, having fun with their friends.

“Some people ask how do we keep public service vehicles safe when we are out.

“I’d turn it around and say the responsibility really lies with the perpetrator,” added Ms Morrogh.

“We can do things to keep ourselves safe, but we need to work to be a society where women are not preyed on by predators, and this is what this man was.”