Amy’s call for free support for victims is backed at council
SLIGO County Council has passed a motion calling on the government to provide free psychological support for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The motion was put forward by Cllr Gino O’Boyle in support of Amy Barrett from Cork, who is campaigning for these services to be made available to all victims. Cllr O’Boyle said: “When a victim goes to court all expenses such as travel and accomodation is taken care of by the state but once the case is finished all support stops and victims are waiting up to two years for counselling services.
“After court, all support after cases stops and victims are under severe anxiety while perpetrators do have access to services, but a victim could have to wait up to two years for support. Victims deserve better care.”
Amy Barrett, unlike many victims in Ireland, got to see her attacker jailed.
However, reliving her experiences of abuse left Amy in a dark place and without any professional services to avail of after the court case concluded – but her attacker could immediately benefit from services in prison.
In an interview in the Irish Examiner, Ms Barrett said: “I hit rock bottom and became suicidal again after the trial. “I was so low I had convinced myself that my family would be better off without me, that I’d always have this struggle. I had it all planned out but luckily I didn’t do it.”
“The prisoners have care plans and psychological support but we get nothing. I don’t begrudge these prisoners – sex offenders – getting treatment, we all deserve it. But where’s the support for victims?”
Ms Barrett said there is also concern about the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has on court cases taking place, with many to be delayed by as much as two years. “I would be very concerned that victims will withdraw their cases if they have to wait that long,” she said.
“And if perpetrators are out in the community all that time, what effect will that have on victims?”
“Will people withdraw their statements? I think people could get very nervous waiting around and decide not to proceed any further. Waiting can be devastating. It already took three years from the time I reported it to gardaí to get to court.”
The motion brought before the council last week was supported by Cllr Declan Bree, who said: “Covid-19 has not caused domestic and sexual violence. It has exposed it.”
“The pandemic has revealed the inadequate and poorly resourced way in which the government has been responding to coercive control generally, and domestic violence specifically.”
“Safe Ireland, an agency working towards ending domestic violence has called for a specific government minister who would have direct responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.”
“Currently in Ireland there is no body, no person or office in charge of managing the sexual violence epidemic, let alone eliminate it.” Cllr Bree said that appropriate services are necessary for victims of domestic violence, but added that a “national conversation” is needed about the prevalence in which it occurs in Irish society. “The provision of a comprehensive and free psychological service for victims is one of the supports which is urgently required. In saying that we must ask ourselves, why are there so many victims?” “What type of society tolerates the level of abuse and violence, particularly against women, that appears to be acceptable in Ireland today?”
“I believe that there is a need for a national conversation, particularly among men, in regard to “domestic violence” and sexual violence and the steps that must be taken to prevent it.”
The motion was supported by Cllr Sinéad Maguire, who said: “We are seeing a terrible crisis clearly now that was always there,” while adding “the lack of services is an impedement for victims coming forward.”
Cllr Arthur Gibbons also spoke in support of the motion. He said laws in Ireland are “soft” and that funding for support for victims is “badly needed”.