128 domestic abuse cases — but not one formal complaint

GARDAÍ in one division in Co Cork dealt with 128 cases of domestic violence in the last two months of 2010 yet, despite the alarming rise in attacks, no formal complaints were made by any of the victims.

The support group Women’s Aid has expressed concern about the number of women who don’t make formal complaints after being attacked — sometimes repeatedly.

Chief Superintendent Kieran McGann, who heads the Cork North division which extends from Youghal to Charleville, said between last October and December his force dealt with 128 incidents of domestic violence, but did not receive a single formal complaint from any of the victims.

The figure, he said, showed an increase of 14 cases on the comparable period in 2009.

Not only did gardaí respond to all the call-outs, but they also visited the victims the following day to check on them.

“We have made every effort to have those victims make complaints and I sincerely hope these people are not being put under pressure not to make a complaint and are thus being left vulnerable,” Chief Supt McGann said.

He initially made the disclosure at a Joint Policing Committee meeting in Cork.

Director of Women’s Aid Mary Martin commended the gardaí for releasing the figures which she described as “quite astonishing”.

“It is really good to see gardaí looking at this closely. Within those figures there must be women who are at very high risk.

“It was something that was hidden and has now been flushed into the open.”

Ms Martin said she would like to see risk assessment and risk management for victims and her organisation was there to help women look at their options to make them safer.

Women’s Aid deals with 10,000 calls a year on its freephone helpline and has been monitoring the murders of women since 1996.

“Of all the murders, 51% were committed by a current or ex-partner and around 80% were killed in their own homes,” Ms Martin said.

* Helpline: 1800341900.