Limerick group at coalface of domestic abuse

MORE than 100 female victims of domestic abuse have been helped by a Limerick-based group since it began operating three years ago.

Southill Domestic Abuse Project is at the coalface of helping women who are victims of violence.

The project was set up in response to local women’s needs after 75% of those surveyed said they knew someone in a violent relationship and nearly half of them had experienced violence themselves.

Limerick’s biggest unemployment blackspots hit the national headlines two months ago when media reports claimed up to 15 local women had been raped by a local marauding gang.

Since then the gardaí have been investigating the complaints and will shortly be reporting the outcome of that investigation.

At the time of the allegations, gardaí said they had received only one complaint of rape from the Southill area and there was a view that the claims were bogus.

But gardaí insisted yesterday that the investigation was not completed.

The project yesterday said it could not comment on these rape allegations, citing client confidentiality.

However, the project’s women’s support worker Wendy Goggin offered advice for victims of violence. She said the first step to come in and seek help is the hardest for most women because that is an admission of what is happening.

Research has also shown that many women want to keep it a secret because they are afraid their family will get hurt or of what their husband or partner will do.

“But we assure them that they can get help in a safe and confidential environment. We do not force decisions, our job is to support women,” Ms Goggin said.

The project provides a series of practical and emotional back-up services.

These include:

A support group which meets every week with an independent facilitator to allow the women share their experiences.

Back-up transport and crèche facilities.

Help to find alternative housing.

Help to get legal advice and support going to court if they are seeking a barring order.

Liaising with other agencies like housing authorities and ADAPT - a refuge centre for women.

Ms Goggin stresses there is no pressure on women to avail of the support group.

But the group has helped women to realise that the violence is not their fault and none of the 10 women in the group now are in their original relationships.

The latest garda statistics show that very few men are convicted in the courts of domestic violence.

There were 10,248 reported incidents of domestic violence nationally in 2002. But just 1,638 were arrested and 651 convicted.

The main problem in bringing these cases to court is to get the women to testify against their partners.