Violence against women

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#Violence against women

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p> Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Benson listens as Margaret Loftus speaks at Leinster House earlier this month. Ms Loftus was speaking out about her 13-year wait for justice after the abuse she suffered at the hands of her then husband. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins</p>

spotlight

Domestic abuse: Inconsistencies still in Garda responses

Advocates are working to improve garda interaction with victims of violence, and reduce delays in getting justice, writes Ann Murphy

<p>The term ‘Vanishing Triangle’ has been applied by the media to the part of Leinster from where the women disappeared in the 1990s.</p>

spotlight

The search for the Irish women who have gone missing in the Vanishing Triangle

<p>On Friday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court — after one week remanded in custody — the man was sentenced to two years and three months, backdated to when he went into custody, with the remainder of the sentence suspended. File picture: Larry Cummins</p>

court and crime

'You won’t be able to recognise your face': Cork man threatened to throw acid over ex-partner

Young Cork man threatened to 'chop woman open and stab her to death', court told

court and crime

Young Cork man threatened to 'chop woman open and stab her to death', court told

Every abuse story has the same dynamic — power vs vulnerability

comment-analysis

Every abuse story has the same dynamic — power vs vulnerability

22,250 people checked whether relationship was abusive, says Women's Aid

news

22,250 people checked whether relationship was abusive, says Women's Aid

Judicial system 'weaponised' against woman domestically abused by garda husband

Judicial system 'weaponised' against woman domestically abused by garda husband

Margaret Loftus has called for TDs to make changes to the legal system

Wed, 11 Feb, 2026

Close up of a sad young Caucasian woman reading bad news

Gardaí must be trained to identify sex-for-rent offers, Oireachtas told

Coalition urges garda training, victim supports and inclusion of sex-for-rent exploitation in Ireland’s domestic and gender-based violence strategy

Mon, 09 Feb, 2026

Lawyer holding document and speaking to jury in courtroom

Counselling records only admissible in court where risk of unfair trial exists

Cabinet approves legislation limiting use of counselling notes in trials, alongside historical justice measures and new bail provisions

Thu, 05 Feb, 2026

Neil Gaiman

Author Neil Gaiman claims sexual assault allegations are result of ‘smear campaign’

Nine women have come forward to accuse the 65-year-old English author of sexual misconduct

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

Victims of sexual offences 'once again in a state of uncertainty' over use of counselling notes in trials

Victims of sexual offences 'once again in a state of uncertainty' over use of counselling notes in trials

Survivors want to see a ban on the use of counselling notes rather than Government legislation which only restricts their use

Sat, 31 Jan, 2026

Courts need to presume counselling notes will not be disclosed in sexual violence trials

Courts need to presume counselling notes will not be disclosed in sexual violence trials

We have spent decades trying to retrofit an adversarial system designed for property disputes to accommodate the reality of gendered sexualised violence, writes Dr Cliona Saidléar of Rape Crisis Ireland

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Man in prison hands of behind hold Steel cage jail bars. offender criminal locked in jail.

Man jailed for raping one woman and sexually assaulting another in Cork on same night

The offences against both women happened in their beds as they attempted to sleep

Fri, 30 Jan, 2026

Matternity hospital rents hotel beds for pregnant women

Ireland's busiest sexual assault treatment unit records 12% rise in cases

Sexual assault treatment units provide 24/7 specialist care to people who have experienced sexual violence, including medical care, forensic examination, evidence storage, and access to psychological support

Thu, 29 Jan, 2026

'I love him to bits,' says woman of husband accused of 'savage and unprovoked attack' against her

'I love him to bits,' says woman of husband accused of 'savage and unprovoked attack' against her

The woman said she wants 'to have him home', despite the attack in front of their two young children at the family home

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Murder deprived 'full of the joys' Bruna chance to enjoy her dream move to Ireland

Murder deprived 'full of the joys' Bruna chance to enjoy her dream move to Ireland

Translations and learning language and nuanced meanings were elements that permeated this tragic case among the close-knit Brazilian community in Cork, writes Liam Heylin

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

Balance sign in court

Limerick survivors call on counselling notes to be fully withdrawn from gender-based violence trials

Among the protestors on Mallow St was abuse survivor Caitríona Hickey who said the defence request to see her counselling notes 'added another layer of trauma'

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

Boy with smartphone indoors. Preteen boy using a phone checking social media. Concept of children using the smartphone

Grok app abuse is 'mild compared to AI girlfriend sites'

'AI girlfriend' websites ‘actively advertised to teens and pre-teens’

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

S Margaret Loftus: Domestic abuse survivor’s ordeal inside An Garda Síochána exposed

Margaret Loftus, a former garda, details her harrowing experience of domestic abuse and institutional betrayal within An Garda Síochána

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

Cork man accused of threatening to kill woman while holding knife to her neck faces more charges

Cork man accused of threatening to kill woman while holding knife to her neck faces more charges

There was no application for bail in the case

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Ireland's support is crucial in tackling Kenya’s femicide crisis

Ireland's support is crucial in tackling Kenya’s femicide crisis

Irish Aid funding is making a difference to women’s lives in Kenya

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Stressed out woman sitting in the back seat of a cab

Sarah Harte: Women are expected to be like ninjas in making it safely home

Taxis are meant to be safe, but horror stories abound, while recent findings about Uber in the US are further cause for concern

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Young boy sitting outside holding a mobile or cellular smart phone. Connectivity, internet, millenial, screen time concepts.

Children and porn: Horrific court cases show why Ireland must bring in age verification now

In two recent Irish cases, boys who abused girls had been consuming porn from an early age. Gemma Kelly says we must curb children's access to porn that normalises violent non-consensual sex

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

'Build your own AI slut': Boys being targeted online by surge in 'girlfriend' websites

'Build your own AI slut': Boys being targeted online by surge in 'girlfriend' websites

Security Correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe looks at the surge of 'AI girlfriend' sites and talks to experts about the impact it is having — and going to have — and the need for the State to compel the tech industry to act

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Children being 'bombarded' online by 'AI girlfriend' porn apps

Children being 'bombarded' online by 'AI girlfriend' porn apps

Children are being 'bombarded' online by so-called AI girlfriend porn apps

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Cork and Waterford on itinerary of book tour highlighting abusive relationships

Cork and Waterford on itinerary of book tour highlighting abusive relationships

Ennis-based national charity is finalising venues for all-Ireland tour of 'Five books that could save your life' focused on the prevention of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence

Wed, 24 Dec, 2025

female farmer planting rice in Africa, Malawi

Irish funding has made space for women in Malawi

We cannot allow conflict and cutbacks to reverse 20 years of fighting gender-based violence and discrimination for women, writes Alice Kachere

Wed, 24 Dec, 2025

Prisoner XL

Waterford man jailed for raping his neighbour just after she returned home from surgery

The man also has previous convictions for the sexual abuse of his stepdaughter

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Woman standing in window

Nasty notes and malicious rumours: One woman's terrifying experience with a stalker

An Irish woman living in the UK describes how routine gestures and neighbourly contact morphed into a sustained and terrifying stalking campaign

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Women and children trapped between domestic violence and homelessness, report finds

Women and children trapped between domestic violence and homelessness, report finds

Surviors have to choose to stay with abuser or navigate the housing crisis, says National Women’s Council

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Body found in Kildare reservoir following serious assault on woman

Body found in Kildare reservoir following serious assault on woman

A house fire was extinguished shortly after 6am in Oaklawn West, Leixlip

Mon, 24 Nov, 2025

Jennie's law puts onus on abused to act

Jennie's law puts onus on abused to act

Jennie's Law is a triumph for the Poole family and campaigners and the public nature of it is unheard of for 'behind closed doors' Ireland. But it needs to go further to work, writes Mary-Louise Lynch

Thu, 06 Nov, 2025

Record levels of internet grooming spark calls for stronger Online Safety Bill

Only 4% of women targeted by online sexual harassment report it to gardaí, research shows

Despite 42% of women saying their mental health was impacted, just 3% said they would go to sexual violence and rape services for support, while just 4% said they would report such an incident to gardaí

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

Sarah Harte: Families of murdered women know how the system has let them down — listen to them

Sarah Harte: Families of murdered women know how the system has let them down — listen to them

A ‘5 Books That Could Save Your Life’ event highlighted how the voices of survivors and families of victims killed by their partners must be at the centre of our response to domestic abuse and coercive control if we are to prevent more domestic homicides

Wed, 29 Oct, 2025

‘No means no,’ judge tells man who sexually assaulted ex-girlfriend

‘No means no,’ judge tells man who sexually assaulted ex-girlfriend

Court hears the man denied sexually assaulting the injured party, and claimed he kissed her by consent twice before she objected a third time

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

A young woman protects herself by exposing her hand in front of her

Irish Examiner view: Societal cancer that is gender-based violence must be cut out

The moves to introduce Jennie’s Law, which would allow for a public register of people convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner, are welcome, overdue, and should be accelerated

Mon, 27 Oct, 2025

You're not protecting women and children with violent protests

You're not protecting women and children with violent protests

When it becomes routine to connect migration with sexual crimes, any incident is a potential tinder box

Fri, 24 Oct, 2025

Katriona O'Sullivan: 'Even in the darkest moments, there was so much brightness, too'

Katriona O'Sullivan: 'Even in the darkest moments, there was so much brightness, too'

As guest editor, Annmarie O’Connor wanted to interview a person who had faced the rubble of life. Here, she talks to Katriona O’Sullivan about picking up the pieces

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Psychologists raise alarm over use of victims’ counselling notes in sexual assault trials

Psychologists raise alarm over use of victims’ counselling notes in sexual assault trials

Psychologists and Cork campaigner Mary Crilly warn that disclosing counselling notes in sex offence trials breaches survivor trust and safety

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

CC Niamh Kelly

14 years for man who subjected his ex to 'breathtaking' violence, stabbing her 50 times

Judge said 21-year-old Niamh Kelly's 'carefree days are gone' given the lifelong injuries inflicted on her by her ex-boyfriend

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Balance.

Man accused of pulling head of female cabin crew member down to his groin to face trial in higher court

It is alleged that the man 'grabbed her and pulled her head down toward his groin to the point where it was touching it'

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Court hears Cork man told woman 'I will kill you' while holding knife to her neck

Court hears Cork man told woman 'I will kill you' while holding knife to her neck

It is also alleged that Kevin Buckley had choked the young woman a number of times

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Upset girl on her smartphone in the dark.

'Trafficking victims in Cork don't come forward for fear of court or deportation'

'All we need is your age and first name': Sexual assault treatment unit specialist encourages trafficking victims who may have been sexually assaulted to come forward

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Man accused of repeatedly punching woman tells Cork court 'she only got a few scratches'

Man accused of repeatedly punching woman tells Cork court 'she only got a few scratches'

The defendant also claimed that she was the one who first assaulted him

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025

Technology has supercharged backlash against women's equality

Technology has supercharged backlash against women's equality

The widespread exposure of young children to violent pornography means many young people have no idea what a normal healthy relationship looks like

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Domestic violance

Housing crisis fuelling violence against women, conference to hear

A conference will hear how the housing crisis is trapping women in abusive relationships and fuelling gender-based violence

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Garda boss considering Taser stun guns for frontline members

Garda boss considering Taser stun guns for frontline members

The new Garda Commissioner said he sees reports regularly showing that frontline gardaí are under 'significant pressure' and that, on a 'weekly basis', members are being injured

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Cork man to be tried in criminal court on charges of harassing and assaulting woman

Cork man to be tried in criminal court on charges of harassing and assaulting woman

He is also accused of grossly offensive communication with the woman

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Domestic violance

Hair and beauty staff trained to spot signs of domestic abuse under new initiative

New initiative will equip hair and beauty professionals with training and resources to recognise abuse, offer support, and guide clients to services

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

Sad woman

Surge in number of pregnant women suffering domestic violence

One in six pregnant women affected become homeless as a direct result of domestic violence

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025