Women's Aid proposes reform of judicial system

Women's Aid has proposed a range of reforms of the Irish judicial system to mark International Day Opposing Violence Against Women.

The organisation said much of the legislation in place is in need of modernisation to afford further protection to women suffering domestic violence.

The proposed reforms include a review of legal aid and addressing the recent ban on interim barring orders. Women's Aid director Denise Charleton said: "What we want to do is to use today to highlight the need for the many legal reforms outlined by a number of different reports.

"There are a number of issues that, I suppose, tie the hands of all the legal practitioners, that prevent them from protecting women who are experiencing abuse."