New director of services appointed to Mayo Rape Crisis Centre

Mayo Rape Crisis Centre has announced the appointment of Shauna Jackson as its new director of services.

Shauna assumes the role following the departure of Loretta Brosnan McDonagh, who has dedicated 30 years to the organisation, including the last 11 years as Director of Services.

In her new role, Shauna Jackson brings over 15 years of experience as a Rape Crisis Counsellor and a long-standing commitment to advocacy for survivors of sexual violence.

The appointment comes as the centre seeks to secure a new premises in Mayo to meet the demand for the service and the needs of clients.

A reception was held at Lough Lannagh Village to mark Loretta’s departure from the service and to welcome Shauna to the service.

Reflecting on her new position, Shauna said: “I am incredibly fortunate to be joining a team of such highly skilled, compassionate and committed staff.

"The work they do is not only vital; it is transformative. I myself trained as a Rape Crisis Counsellor over 15 years ago.

"I know firsthand the resilience and professionalism this work demands. It was during that time that I also learned so much from Loretta; lessons that have stayed with me and shaped my path.”

Reflecting on the centre’s mission, Shauna added: “This is a service that exists because survivors deserve support, justice and dignity.

"I step into this role not only with gratitude for the extraordinary leadership that came before me, but with a deeper sense of purpose and readiness to continue advancing the mission we believe in.”

Loretta Brosnan McDonagh's parting speech was a heartfelt reflection on her 30-year tenure, which began as a volunteer with the service soon after its establishment in 1994.

She expressed her concerns about the ongoing prevalence of sexual violence in the community and the broader societal factors that perpetuate it, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by victims seeking justice, the continued presence of victim-blaming narratives, and the need for accountability in addressing sexual violence.

Urging systemic change and more visible male advocacy against sexual violence, Loretta asked: “Why are we not putting the perpetrators in the spotlight and asking about their stories? Why are we not looking at how and why perpetrators came to believe it was permissible to do what they did to their victims of all ages?”

Loretta also called on the community to challenge the normalisation of sexual violence and to cultivate empathy as a critical tool for prevention.

She expressed gratitude to her colleagues past and present, to Rape Crisis Ireland, of which the centre is an active member, and to those who have used the services of the Centre:

Loretta stated: “I pay special tribute to the clients of the centre I have met, and who have trusted me to hold space for them as they confronted the trauma of the impact sexual violence had on their lives.

"But also, to the many partners, parents, siblings and friends of survivors who I had the privilege to work with. I was regularly left in complete awe of their ability to face and overcome such painful stories.”

Shauna also acknowledged the profound impact of her predecessor's leadership.

She stated: “I am grateful for the trust placed in me to take on this role. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I want to honour the incredible contributions of Loretta, who has led with compassion and strength for over a decade.

"I am here to listen, to learn and to lead, with a clear commitment to survivors and to the powerful work that Mayo Rape Crisis Centre continues to do every day.”

The board of Mayo Rape Crisis Centre extends heartfelt gratitude to Loretta Brosnan McDonagh for her decades of service and welcomes Shauna Jackson into her new leadership optimism for the continued support and advocacy for survivors in Mayo and beyond.

Mayo Rape Crisis Centre offers free, confidential and specialised counselling support to survivors of sexual violence in Co. Mayo, and to those who support them.

The Centre can be contacted via freephone helpline number 1800 234 900, via email info@mrcc.ie or via its website, www.mrcc.ie.