Judge stuns court with criticism of battered wife
Judge John Neilan stunned Longford District Court by declaring that women who tried to back out of complaints made after assaults could find themselves “at the bottom of the stairs” or stabbing their partners in self-defence.
“You do no service to the female section of the community,” he told a woman who asked to withdraw a lengthy statement detailing how her husband had beaten her up. “You are only encouraging people to assault you by what you have done here today.”
The organisation representing women’s refuges said, however, women who backed out of court actions against abusive partners usually did so because it was their only safe option.
“The only person who knows how to be safe in her situation is the woman herself,” said Sarah Morton, services co-ordinator of the National Network of Women’s Refuges and Support Services (NNWRSS).
“We have found time and time again that, even though it can be perceived as a negative thing to do, very often the safest thing for her and her children is to withdraw the complaint against the partner or not go ahead with a statement or take him back after a barring order has been put in place.”
Ms Morton said this reflected badly on the level of protection available for women trying to escape domestic violence. “Unfortunately, the State response can be inconsistent and a lot of perpetrators of severe violence are very clever about how they work the system.”
The NNWRSS is calling for increased resources for its 40 women’s refuges and for funding to provide accompaniment for women going to court and an advocacy service while they worked through the legal system. Ms Morton also said there was a need for “safety planning” for women suffering abuse so that they had an emergency action plan that would kick in when they felt in danger.
Judge Neilan has previously said that abuse in the home was out of control.
He made his latest remarks after being told that a Longford woman wished to retract a statement she had made to gardaí about her husband.
In a grim warning, the judge told the woman that in the past week alone he had seen photographs of “the horrendous injuries caused by boots and fists”.
“It is highly likely that you will want the assistance of the gardaí again,” he said.
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