Rise in requests for protection orders

ALMOST 11,400 separate applications for protection were made by victims of domestic violence to the Courts last year.

New figures provided by the Courts Service show that there was a 15% increase in the number of people seeking protection from violent partners and other family members during 2007.

Almost 6,800 orders granting either safety, barring or protection were issued by the Courts, according to the annual report of the Courts Service.

It revealed that over 80% of all applicants for various types of safety and protection orders are made by the partner of the alleged abuser. However, large increases were reported last year in the number of parents seeking protection from abusive children.

The figures suggest that the level of domestic violence might be increasing again following several years where the number of people seeking protection from the Courts had declined.

The number of cases involving children taken into care by the Health Service Executive also rose by almost 7% to just over 1,200.

The report showed that a total of 3,684 divorce orders were granted in 2007 — an increase of 217 on the previous year. There was a similar slight increase in the number of judicial separations approved by the Courts — up 186 to 1,185.

While the number of divorces granted in 2007 is a record, the rate of growth has slowed down considerably since 2000, when the figure stood at 2,710. Women accounted for 60% of all new applications for divorce received last year.

Meanwhile, over half of all new civil cases coming before the Courts last year related to breach of contract and debt collection.

Evidence of the declining popularity of pubs across the Republic is confirmed by the fact that there was a 17% reduction in the number of applicants for new pub licences last year, while similar applications for hotel bar licences fell by 36%.

The Circuit Court granted 267 new pub licences in 2007 — a decrease of 322 on the previous year and 62 new hotel bar licences compared to 98 a year earlier.

Meanwhile, there was a large increase in the number of personal injuries cases — up 122% to 5,951, although the increase is largely attributed to the fact that such cases, which have to be formally certified by the Injuries Board before they can progress to the Courts, are only now being processed through the new system.

A total of 133 personal injury awards were made by the High Court last year paying out a total of €21,847,190.

The Courts recorded a 70% increase in medical negligence cases, while there was a 30% increase in cases brought under the Solicitors Act, which includes complaints of professional misconduct against members of the legal profession.

There was also a 25% increase in the number of claims lodged with the Small Claims Court, which provides a low-cost alternative for consumers of dealing with complaints about goods or services worth €2,000 or less. The Court Service believes the increase is partly due to the fact that 41% of such complaints are made on-line.