Women flock to refuges after barring orders are outlawed

WOMEN are flocking to refuges and violent partners are moving back into the family home following the outlawing of temporary barring orders, according to women’s aid groups.

A sample survey by the National Network of Women’s Refuges and Support Services (NNWRSS) of its 32 affiliated organisations found mass confusion among service users about the validity of full barring orders. This follows a Supreme Court ruling on October 9 declaring interim barring orders unconstitutional.

NNWRSS director Sharon O’Halloran said feedback from around the country showed that violent partners were challenging the status of full barring orders and threatening to go to court to get them rescinded. In some cases, partners had moved back into the home: “There is complete confusion among both women and men and the perception is that all orders are affected by this.”