Supports urged for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence
Shaneda Daly, Leona O'Callaghan, Senator Maria McCormack, Matt Carthy TD, and Sonya Stokes. File picture
Survivor advocates have called for urgent action to address what they describe as serious failures across Ireland’s justice, policing, and support systems for victims of domestic and sexual violence.
The group Victims’ Voices raised a range of concerns during a meeting on Monday with Liam Herrick, chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), in Dublin.
Former garda and domestic abuse campaigner Margaret Loftus and survivor of rape Sonya Stokes highlighted issues facing victims and survivors across policing, prosecution, family law, child safeguarding, probation and support services.
Ms Loftus spoke about her concerns on the use of the family justice system by alleged perpetrators to continue patterns of power and control following separation.
She said domestic abuse and coercive control must be properly recognised in family law proceedings rather than being treated as ordinary family disputes.
“A courtroom must never become an extension of the perpetrator’s power and control,” she said.
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Ms Loftus also highlighted concerns about perpetrators within the gardaí and the potential impact this can have on victims’ confidence in reporting abuse and on institutional accountability.
“What good is legislation if the people entrusted to enforce it can themselves be perpetrators?” she asked.
Ms Stokes spoke about the difficulties faced by survivors of sexual abuse after criminal proceedings have concluded, including accessing counselling and other supports.
Both women called for free, trauma-informed counselling for survivors, as well as properly resourced refuges and safe accommodation.
They also said greater co-operation was required between the gardaí, Tusla, Cuan, local authorities, the probation service and other agencies.
“No survivor should have to leave her own country because she is terrified that her perpetrator will find her,” Ms Stokes said.
“The victim should not have to disappear to be safe. The system should be providing the protection.”
The management and post-release supervision of high-risk sexual offenders was also raised, with calls for stronger conditions, effective monitoring and improved information-sharing between agencies.
“Stronger safeguards should be considered where necessary to protect victims and children, including in relation to offenders’ proximity to victims, schools and playgrounds,” Ms Stokes said.
Monday's meeting also examined the Victims of Sexual Violence Civil Protection Orders Bill 2025, introduced by TD Matt Carthy.
These issues have been raised previously by survivors of rape Shaneda Daly, Leona O’Callaghan, and Sonya Stokes.
Senator Maria McCormack said the legislation is important because a criminal conviction did not necessarily end a survivor’s fear.
The bill seeks to give courts the power, at sentencing, to impose a civil protection order to protect a victim from the person who committed the offence.
Ms McCormack said survivors had provided powerful testimony to the Oireachtas Justice Committee and that the legislation had now progressed to committee stage.
She said legislation alone would not be sufficient, with survivors also requiring access to counselling, safe accommodation and properly trained professionals.
Ms Loftus and Ms Stokes thanked Mr Herrick for meeting them and listening to their concerns.
They said they were "not seeking promises but wanted the issues to be properly examined from an IHREC perspective".
The advocates said they hoped the concerns raised would lead to meaningful changes and expressed a desire to meet President Catherine Connolly "to bring survivors’ experiences to the highest levels of public life".
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