Justice Minister ‘failing victims of domestic abuse’

A TEENAGE victim of domestic violence has told how she broke down in tears as she recounted to the Justice Minister how she was subjected to physical, mental and verbal abuse between the ages of eight and twelve.

But 19-year-old Ainie Grainger has criticised Frances Fitzgerald for rowing back on her promise last year to criminalise domestic violence. ‘I begged her to ensure that domestic violence be criminalised,’ Ainie said this weekend.

‘She looked me straight in the face and said, “We are well on the way to getting this criminalised.” When I heard that, I was so relieved, it seemed like I was about to win what had been a terribly long battle.’

Currently, there is no specific law in place to cover an act of domestic violence. If a man or woman makes a complaint to gardaí, a statement will be taken and the alleged offender is generally free to return to the family home until the DPP decides whether to press charges.

In 2014, a cross-party committee recommended that a specific offence of domestic abuse be created which would include both physical and psychological abuse within a relationship. In 2015, Ms Fitzgerald described Ireland’s signing of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention as a ‘an important milestone for those who have campaigned for better protections for victims of domestic violence’.

But this week the Department Of Justice confirmed that a provision to criminalise the offence will not be included in the new Bill, leaving Ainie, who runs the Do Or Die Foundation with her mother Priscilla, devastated.

‘I feel let down,’ said Ainie. ‘I broke down as I told her what my abuser did to me, and my story can be repeated countless times by women and men all over Ireland. Frances Fitzgerald has failed me and all other victims.’

A spokesperson for the Tánaiste said Ms Fitzgerald met Ainie last year, and listened to her concerns. In the context of the Domestic Violence Bill 2017, the spokesperson said, various criminal justice agencies consulted during its drafting ‘advised there is no gap in the range of offences that can be prosecuted in domestic violence cases’.

‘I broke down as I told her my story’