Outdated abuse legislation ‘putting unmarried parents at risk’

HUNDREDS of thousands of unmarried parents are being put at risk of violent partners because of outdated domestic abuse legislation, a manifesto launch in Dublin heard yesterday.

Research in the manifesto has revealed that two-thirds of domestic violence victims who come through refuge centres are abused during custody visits.

Reacting, the Chief executive officer with the One Parent Exchange Network, Frances Byrne, said a sizeable portion of modern Irish society was now falling outside the protection of family law because they are not married.