The organizers of the St. Patrick's Day parade in Ballirnobe, Co Mayo have apologized for an "Epstein Files" float that advocates say "normalizes rape and sexual violence."
A viral video from the Ballinrobe St. Patrick's Day parade, which was held on Tuesday, March 17, shows a tractor with a sign reading "EPSTEIN FILES" pulling a flatbed adorned with Irish flags.
On the flatbed, actors simulated sexual assault on a mattress. A large cage was also on the flatbed, along with a sign reading "PRINCE ANDREW GOIN TO JAIL." Actors chased each other around the tractor and flatbed, portraying offenders and victims.
The video also showed a parade participant handing out sweets to onlookers. A number of children can be seen watching the float in the video of the Ballinrobe parade.
The float reportedly featured in other St. Patrick's Day parades in Kilmaine and Shrule, as well as in Headford, Co Galway.
The display comes not long after the US Department of Justice published millions of files relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. One of the files includes a complaint that alleges a young teen was trafficked from the US to Ireland to "have sex" with "politicians and notable men."
"An appalling failure of judgment"
"It is absolutely shocking that anybody would choose to re-enact multiple incidents of sexual violence against women as 'entertainment' in a St. Patrick's Day parade," Dr. Clíona Saidléar, Executive Director of the Dublin Rape Crisis Center (DRCC), told the Irish Independent.
"This is an appalling failure of judgment that reflects the persistent minimization of sexual violence and a misogynistic culture that facilitates it.
"Such a public display is an act of public grooming that normalizes rape and sexual violence, and it is completely unacceptable that there was complicity in allowing this float to take part in the Ballinrobe St. Patrick's Day parade."
"No excuse"
Rachel Morrogh, CEO of DRCC, told RTÉ Radio's Drivetime that the float was "shocking," adding that there is "no excuse that would ever make it okay."
She said the "rape float" showed "a number of rapes taking place in the trailer, victims being chased by predators wearing masks around the float, and all this for entertainment."
She said: "I can hardly even believe what I've seen.
"It was designed not to signpost victims toward support, but actually the aim was to trivialize, and mock, and to joke about sexual violence.
"It has no place anywhere. I find it sickening to look at, knowing the deep, deep trauma that we deal with in rape crisis centers around the country every single day of the year.
"This is an example of why survivors don't feel comfortable telling anyone what happened to them.
"We're already getting calls in Dublin Rape Crisis Center from victims who have been re-traumatized by looking at this video."
The DRCC is encouraging anyone who has been impacted by rape or sexual violence to reach out for support by contacting its free 24-hour confidential helpline on 1800 778888 or by contacting a local Rape Crisis Centre.
Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins said: "We saw a parade for St. Patrick's Day in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, yesterday that had a float simulating rape.
"Why was a float dedicated to the Epstein files allowed, and why, when children were present at a parade, was any such depiction of rape allowed?
"It is absolutely horrific, and joking about rape is part of the problem we have in this society."
"We apologize unreservedly"
The day after the parade, the Ballinrobe St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee said in a statement that "one of the floats was not in keeping with the values of our parade," adding that the float was "highly offensive to those who attended and those who viewed the material online and we apologize unreservedly for this."
The committee said: "Floats arrive on the day and often reflect topical themes. There is no entry, registration, or vetting process due to the informal, community-led nature of the event. We have never previously had an issue of this nature.
"We had no prior knowledge that any float would depict scenes in the manner that took place.
"Once we realized, we responded immediately. Typically, the parade completes two laps of the town, but we acted to reduce the parade to one lap."
The committee said it will now review the organization of the parade "to ensure that future celebrations continue to reflect the respectful, inclusive and family-friendly spirit intended."
The committee added that anyone "affected by issues relating to sexual violence or abuse" can access confidential support through local and national services, such as the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre, Safe Ireland Mayo, or, nationally, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Helpline.
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