Meet the TRANSSEXUAL rape counsellor who saw vulnerable victims while wearing HIGH HEELS, LEGGINGS and LIPSTICK. Burly Keira McCormack, 47 — who used to be a quantity surveyor known as Kevin — was employed at the Nexus Institute in Belfast from 2005 to May this year.

Rape crisis experts consulted by Sunday Life have questioned why women in need of help were confronted by a 5ft 10in transsexual.

Both Keira and the Nexus Institute refused to discuss her work there. But we have spoken to Keira's wife, Alison, who today reveals how Kevin went from a quantity surveyor to Keira the counsellor.

Alison told us that her marriage to Keira has collapsed since she left Nexus.

The couple are originally from north England and in May returned home and have parted ways.

But Keira travelled back to Northern Ireland recently to visit a pal, believed to be a former client at Nexus. We tracked her down to her friend's house near Poleglass in west Belfast.

When we asked about Nexus and her work there she stayed inside and made no comment.

We tried to contact Keira after the confrontation, but could not track her down.

It’s believed she flew back to Liverpool.

When Sunday Life contacted Nexus to ask about any official objections against Keira, they refused to comment without first reading this story.

The organisation has stated that it operates “an exceptionally important service”.

A boss at the Nexus branch where Keira worked even refused to give us his name when we identified ourselves.

Before he hung up the phone he said: “We’re not discussing any former employee. Goodbye.”

A top director in Rape Crisis England and Wales said women expected to come into an environment of trust when they came for counselling.

Angie Conroy added: “Under gender duty law, we are in no position to refuse transsexuals.

“But rape crisis centres sprung out of women supporting women from a shared experience.

“Women who have been victims of rape expect to come to a place they trust and where they are going to be sharing their experiences with women who understand their life experience.

“Ninety-five per cent of abuse is perpetrated by men and we have very few men working in rape crisis across the UK.”

Angie revealed that, to her knowledge, Rape Crisis had only ever employed one transsexual, but they worked on a treasury board and had since left the organisation.

Today, Keira's wife, Alison, reveals how she discovered her lover wanted a sex-change and how she supported her through the operation.