![\"Protests](\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/232ae8b87327ea8660c86bd2b101230c1e78f3f7\/0_377_6000_3600\/master\/6000.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ae7fa3136337ee4795a4ce225bc0e75d)
<\/picture><\/div>A retired senior judge has called for an overhaul of the way rape is dealt with by the criminal justice system in\u00a0Northern Ireland<\/a>, in a move that could have profound implications for the rest of the UK.<\/p>\n In an interim report, Sir John Gillen has called for a series of measures likely to be viewed as controversial by some, including limiting public access to court in rape trials and providing complainants with legal representation.<\/p>\n Gillen \u2013 who said he wanted to leave \u201cno voice unheard\u201d \u2013 is looking at how Northern Ireland deals with serious sexual offences as part of an independent review. There was an intense public debate and protests following the\u00a0acquittal of two Ulster Rugby players<\/a>, Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding, in March after a nine-week rape trial in Belfast.<\/p>\n The draft report highlights a series of failings: although 45% of defendants charged with rape were convicted of an offence, only 15% were convicted of rape. Northern Ireland\u2019s conviction rate for non-sexual offences is 88.2%.<\/p>\n The review is ongoing, but Gillen has made a series of interim proposals, including that:<\/p>\n The report also suggests banning the public from rape trials, limiting access only to the people directly involved and the press. Citing the Ulster rugby trial, Gillen said the public attention had been huge with the complainant forced to give the most intimate details in front of more than 100 people.<\/p>\n \u201cComplainants hate it, they find it a real burden \u2026 and that contributes to people not coming forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The former judge said he was not persuaded that defendants should also retain anonymity in sexual offence trials \u2013 as they do in the Republic of Ireland \u2013 because it was likely to stop collaborate evidence emerging.<\/p>\n![\"Sir](\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/4cf335b961ccb5b3e655e0fb0ec38d443ae39587\/0_40_1447_1808\/master\/1447.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8c1540d29b60c10d288898eef8d44fb5)
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