No room for 3,256 abuse victims at safe houses Desperate women are denied sanctuary
COMPLAINANTS in domestic and sexual abuse cases are being forced to queue next to their abusers in Ireland’s “archaic” family court service, an umbrella group said yesterday.
The Courting Disaster coalition is urging the Government to allocate funding to develop a new family law
MORE than 3,200 women seeking sanctuary from violent men were turned away from safe houses last year due to lack of space.
It means every day, nine desperate women couldn’t find shelter from harm.
Many are forced to return home, often with children, to face more abuse.
Safe Ireland yesterday published figures showing the sickening scale of domestic violence which they say is now an epidemic.
It found: “Over the year services providing refuge were unable to provide accommodation for 3,256 requests because they were full.”
Safe Ireland chief Sharon O’halloran accused the Government of starving professional services of funding and resources.
She said current services are “fragile and creaking”.
Mrs O’halloran added: “The numbers of women and children facility in Dublin’s Smithfield. Barnardos, Children’s Rights Alliance, Community Law and Mediation, Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and Family Lawyers Association are among those calling for reform.
The National Women’s Council Ireland, One Family, the Bar of Ireland, the Law Society and Women’s Aid have also lent their voices to the campaign.
They says victims are being re-traumatised by the system.
Tanya Ward, from Children’s Rights seeking safety continue to be shocking.
“The Government didn’t provide any additional funding in the Budget.
“Recycled announcements and grand statements do very little for women and children coming to our services each day. “They do even less for women and children who have not come forward yet and still live in homes of terror.”
Mrs O’halloran added there was also enormous concern over unreported domestic abuse and coercive control. Safe Ireland’s annual report shows 10,782 women and 2,572 children received support last year. In addition 53,627 helpline calls were answered by support services.
The CEO said while staff are “hard wired” to help it is no longer enough to deal with an epidemic of domestic abuse. It also found children are increasingly caught in the crossfire of domestic abuse.
women received support from Safe Ireland last year
helpline calls were answered by support services over the year
Picket in Dublin last night
Alliance, said: “The first time they go up to the hatch, they have to tell their story in order to get the barring order.
“Then they are forced to sit next or queue next to the partner – this is someone who could’ve nearly killed her.
“We have to have a facility where women feel safe and child friendly.”
In October a Dail justice committee recommended funding be allocated but the group said agreement has yet to be reached on structure and funding.