Refuge denied to many domestic violence victims

THERE will be no refuge for many victims of domestic violence who will flee their homes with their children over Christmas.

The combination of financial pressure, family commitments and alcohol tends to make Christmas one of the most vulnerable times for women who are experiencing domestic abuse.

But while Women’s Aid can offer support to those who call their helpline over the festive period, they are unable to guarantee them a safe place to stay.

Two-out-of-five women were turned away from refuges in Dublin last year - with one centre turning away up to 45 families a month.

Women’s Aid also expects calls for help to increase over the holiday period as a result of TV3’s campaign against domestic violence, launched yesterday by the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Frank Fahey.

Women’s Aid communication manager Teresa O’Donnell said they had been hoping there would be something for the organisation in the Budget but that was not yet clear.

“We do expect things to quieten down over Christmas as parents try to make it a happy time for their children, but we will be very busy again once the main celebration is over,” she said.

“Many people would like to believe that domestic violence has been dealt with - but the fact that calls to us increase at this time of year certainly doesn’t concur with our image of Christmas,” she said.

The Network of Rape Crisis Centres (NRCC) said the country’s 16 rape crisis centres and 38 refuges were in dire need of funding.

NRCC’s policy and communications coordinator Cliona Saddler said they had been asking the Government for an extra €5 million on top of the €12m they had been receiving every year since 2002 just to break even.

More than 45,000 calls were received by the rape crisis centres last year and some victims are having to wait up to six months for counselling.

“It is not good enough that someone who has disclosed something that happened to them almost 20 years ago has to wait another six months to get the help they need,” she said.

Ms Saddler said they had a lot of high-level discussions with members of the Government and had been quietly confident that they would get a funding boost in the Budget, but would have to wait until the new year to find out.

TV3 communications manager Deirdre Walsh said two important message about domestic violence would be conveyed in their campaign - that it was both physical and psychological abuse and that it affects everybody.

Helplines

Women’s Aid 1800-341900

Childline 1800-666666

Rape Crisis Centre 1800-77 8888

Amen [phone]

Aoibhneas Women’s Refuge [phone]

One in Four [phone].