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THE NUMBER OF criminal charges brought for alleged crimes related to domestic abuse rose by 24% to 7,600 last year, gardaí have said.
In provisional figures for 2020, it showed that gardaí received approximately 43,000 calls to respond to domestic abuse incidents – a 16% increase on 2019.
A further 4,300 domestic abuse court orders were notified to gardaí in 2020, while over 4,000 criminal charges were brought for alleged breaches of domestic abuse court orders.
Gardaí said that three convictions were recorded in 2020 for coercive control. Last week, a man in his 50s received a 10-year jail term after he was convicted of the coercive control of his former partner.
In a statement this evening, An Garda Síochána reiterated that the current restrictions on travel during Level 5 do not apply in the case of domestic violence or to escape a risk of harm.
It referenced Operation Faoiseamh, an initiative that commenced in April 2020 with the goal of providing supports to victims of domestic abuse.
Under this operation, 23,785 contacts and attempted contacts were made with victims of domestic abuse.
The garda statement added: “An Garda Síochána resources dedicated to the support of vulnerable and victims of domestic violence have not been affected during our response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) and Divisional Protective Service Units (DPSU), now established in every Garda Division, supported by Divisional Victim Service Offices (DVSO) and front line Gardaí are all resources available to respond to these crimes and support these citizens.
“An Garda Síochána encourages any victim of abuse or any person who knows of a family member or friend who is a victim of such abuse, make contact with An Garda Síochána, that information is important to us
“Any person who requires urgent assistance or support, is asked to call 999 or 112.”
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It’s about time that the sentences for domestic abuse getting heavier. Also that it has to get easier to make a complained and the Garda learn to believe the victims of this.
@Hans Vos: There should definitely be a register of domestic abusers in Ireland. England and Wales introduced one a few years back. If I remember correctly, they had a poll in the journal about adopting it here and the vast majority were against it.
@Hans Vos: Gardai are not there to believe anyone…they collect evidence and present it to a court. Independent investigators.
@Cosmos20202020: I agree but a lot of complainants are sent he without note’s taken.
@Hans Vos: proof of that hans ?
@Seaniecp: 66% of domestic violence cases are dismissed.
@Seaniecp: 66% of domestic violence cases are dismissed. In a lot of cased the garda say that there is not enough evidence and advice the complainants not to press charges.
@Hans Vos: so the fact 66% of cases are dismissed is proof the guards do not take notes of the incident? To say that is streeeeetching it is an understatement. You know notes of the victims account of events and notes of the accused account of events are not actual evidence – its a he said v she said situation and in the law you are innocent til proven guilty. A complaint is not evidence.
@Eoin Jackson and Seany CP you both right. I stretched it to far.
@Hans Vos: You didn’t stretch it too far, you told an outright lie.
Couples under each other’s feet, children at home ,sadly leads to fraid temper’s. Of course it is no excuse, just an opinion. I know it’s difficult for everyone, Be kind to one another.
@Peter Bell: this is so much more than ‘tempers’. This is a serious problem in our culture. It’s a reflection of how children are being raised, the influence of the media, and our paltry justice system.
What a poorly written headline.
@Fergal McDonagh: yeah, was thinking that the couple in question must’ve been making a hell of a racket for 43000 people to call the cops.
Lockdowns save lives.
@Verners Tess: Not to mention it causes depression, loneliness, and incredible worry for those forced on to the dole or those forced to close perfectly viable businesses.
@The Firestarter: How do you think the thousands of berieved families out there feel regarding depression, loneliness etc ? There’s a lot worse than can happen than losing a job.
have your say