A woman who alleged she was raped by a taxi driver has settled legal action against the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) over failures in its investigation of the case.
The attack is said to have taken place during a journey in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, in November 2011. The Police Ombudsman previously found that the PSNI failed to properly investigate or supervise the alleged crime, and did not keep the woman updated on progress.
Under the terms of the resolution, the PSNI will pay the woman's legal costs following a hearing at the High Court in Belfast. Her solicitor, Owen Beattie, described the outcome as “vindication” in a case where police failings had already been identified.
The woman, who cannot be named, alleged that the driver made sexual advances before locking the doors, pulling over and attacking her in the rear of his car. She reported the incident that night and was taken to the location by police the following day.
The driver was subsequently interviewed by detectives and claimed she had made advances on him. A file was submitted to the Public Prosecution Service, but no charge was brought for evidential reasons said to involve a lack of independent evidence.
The woman's civil proceedings sought damages for alleged misconduct in public office, breach of statutory duty and negligence, citing failures to carry out forensic examinations, obtain CCTV footage and pursue other lines of enquiry.
