Community ‘key to end abuse’

AN abused Limerick mother spent just one night away from home in seven years - and that was to have a baby, a pilot study on domestic violence revealed yesterday.

The Southill Domestic Abuse Project report is based on work carried out with abused local women between July 2000 and June 2003.

The study found that women are prepared to come forward for help within their own community rather than staying silent over fears of losing their anonymity.

“We have found that the problem of domestic abuse can be addressed in a relatively small community in a very confidential and sensitive manner and that women don’t have to leave to get help,” said Wendy Goggin, Women’s Support Worker in Southill.

Fiona O’Leary, a Southill resource worker, said they were surprised at the openness of women experiencing domestic abuse, which showed the need to open up a local avenue to deal with it.

“The good thing is that it has made them stronger. Women who survive abuse are new women and they have gone on to make such a change in Southill,” she said.

Women came or were referred to the project through various agencies such as social workers (6.9%), friends/colleagues (8.3%) and gardaí (1.5%). But the single biggest group (25%) came forward on their own.

Women attending support group sessions had an overnight break as respite and support for each other.

The report found that many had not been away from home for a long time and felt the break was valuable.

“One woman described how she had not been away overnight for seven years and this was to have a baby,” the report said.

Another woman told how she had been frightened to go out and mix with people and make friends.

“Being in the support group got me to have confidence, to move on and to speak for myself. When I listened to those who had left abusers and I heard where they had come from and I saw how they were going back to education and going to work, I re-evaluated my life and I got strength too,” she said.

Gerry O’Sullivan, who compiled the report, said long-term funding is necessary so that the Southill Domestic Abuse Project can continue its work in line with its vision.

She said it was regrettable that the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs did not continue to fund the project which is only in its infancy. Funding up to next year has been obtained from the Department of Justice.