Freedom of the City for Mary

Mary Crilly’s decades of work is to be honoured with a Freedom of the City accolade from Cork City Council.

Mary is the founding member and CEO of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork which was set up on International Women’s Day in 1983 and has been providing services to victims of sexual violence in Cork city and county for over 37 years.

The centre was formerly known as Cork Rape Crisis Service and aims to provide the highest quality of services to victims of sexual violence and works towards the elimination of sexual violence in society.

The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher made the announcement during Monday’s Cork City Council meeting. She is to be bestowed the Freedom of the City award in recognition of her work in the areas of sexual and domestic violence, sex trafficking, female genital mutilation and stalking.

Speaking about the announcement, the centre said in a tweet: “We are so proud.”

An award ceremony will take place next month.