Irish rape survivor tells of being 'silenced & ignored for too long'

AN Irish woman who accused Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner of rape has launched a case in the European courts against Portuguese authorities.

- BY PAUL HEALY

Hazel Behan lodged papers before the European court of Human Rights over what she says was the authorities' failure to probe him at the time of the sexual assault in 2004.

The case centres on the alleged inaction of the Portuguese authorities in identifying and prosecuting the man later named prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of Madeleine.

Dubliner Hazel, who was raped in her apartment in Praia da Rocha, Algarve, alleges Portuguese police failed to seize the blood-stained bed sheets and broken false nails from the struggle, which plainly contained important forensic evidence.

She also argued there was a failure to provide her with a translator so she could understand the process or provide a detailed witness statement at the time.