State ‘failing children in violent homes’

CHILDREN in violent homes are offered little protection by the State and few child-centred services are available to combat the impact domestic violence has on them, a report reveals.

Some children are being assaulted during incidents of domestic violence while teenagers have spoken of years of witnessing and overhearing violence inflicted by one parent on another. In some cases, text messages were sent to children by their father saying what he was going to do to their mother at home.

Meanwhile, teenage boys are at risk of assault or homelessness as a result of a general rule which prohibits them staying in emergency refuges with their mothers and younger siblings.