Aaron Bride, a 19-year-old transgender individual, tragically passed away before his alleged rapists could face trial. The incident, which occurred near Dublin’s GPO in August 2021, involved two Eastern European men.
Despite overwhelming evidence, including CCTV footage and one of the defendants friends having recorded the incident, the case was dropped due to Aaron’s untimely death. His family is devastated and accuses the state of failing their son.
Aaron’s mother, Jackie, expressed her frustration with the lengthy legal process, stating, “If the case had gone ahead more quickly, it would have been over and done with. And maybe Aaron could have gotten on with his life.”
The family believes that the stress and trauma associated with the attack and the subsequent delays contributed to Aaron’s deteriorating health and eventual death.
They are now calling for significant changes to the justice system, including dedicated courts for sexual assault cases and increased judicial resources to expedite trials.
The alleged rapists will no longer face trial and are free men.
