The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) says there have been a number of calls to their helpline following an interview with retired Judge Barry White on RTÉ.

In answer to a question on sentencing in cases of rape, Mr White said there can be some very violent ones and some less violent ones.

Callers to the helpline were angry and upset at the comments by Mr White. The DRCC says there is no such thing as a 'less violent rape.'

It says: "The training that the Education and Training Department of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has on offer, for those involved in the criminal justice system, is training that helps participants to understand the impact of rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, on the victim."

"If judges were to understand more fully the consequences on the individual of these most heinous crimes, it would more fully inform their understanding of the impact on the victim, which they must take into consideration when they are delivering a sentence," the DRCC adds.

Chief Executive of the DRCC, Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop, insisted rape is an inherently violent act.