Domestic violence crisis - Government gesture too little too late

IN reaction to the continuing Irish Examiner exposé of Ireland’s epidemic of domestic violence, the Government has announced a national media campaign to raise awareness of, and help change attitudes to, a hidden scandal that is mirrored in the battered faces of women and the terrified eyes of children.

As far as it goes, the belated gesture by Equality Minister Frank Fahey is to be welcomed. But it is too little too late, wrongly conceived and doesn’t go far enough.

Perceived as a political public relations ploy by many of those working at the coalface of this nationwide crisis, it is certainly no substitute for meaningful policy initiatives.

For years a blind eye has been turned to the harsh realities of domestic violence. While an advertising campaign aimed at raising public awareness may be warranted, the Government would be better employed funding the grossly under-resourced domestic violence centres across the country.

Despite operating on a shoe string, they have to pick up the pieces every day. According to reliable estimates, some 213,000 women and 88,000 men have been severely abused in this country.

However, the severity of violence inflicted on women, generally exceeds that suffered by men which tends mainly to be emotional. Clearly, as evidenced by today’s ongoing series of case studies, domestic violence can mean a lifetime of suffering.

April O’Conor underwent 25 years of violence before she left home. And, illustrating the fact that men also fall victim to extreme violence, Peter McBride died after being stabbed by his partner, the culmination of an eight-year relationship.

While Irish domestic violence legislation is described as robust by legal experts, the Irish Examiner probe shows the legal system can be unsuitable for dealing with the aftermath of violence. In particular, it can militate against the interests of women.

As things stand, judges only hear the evidence of both sides in a court room. Under civil law, no investigation is carried out.

Beggaring belief, as one solicitor put it, there is no process in a district court to carry out risk assessment. Nor does anybody monitor events or present the case for abuse.

Furthermore, the ability to push for a barring order is beyond most people. But even when a case is initiated it can take up to three months to reach the courts.

During this time lapse, the couple normally go on living together, with the victim becoming the inevitable target of ongoing violence and intimidation.

In many instances, the battered wife or husband feels they cannot speak out because of society’s ingrained lack of sympathy for or understanding of their plight.

Regrettably, there is also marked reluctance on the part of the gardaí to charge the perpetrators of domestic violence due to the amount of hassle involved and because the victims often withdraw their allegations in the courtroom.

With the Budget looming and the Exchequer coffers awash with cash, this Government should now face up to its responsibilities.

Despite the fact that Ireland is seen as having relatively strong legislation in this vexed area, the big problem is that people cannot rely on it to protect them because of a chronic lack of resources to implement the law.

It is high time Mr Fahey put his money where his mouth is. The Government must provide adequate resources for the centres and organisations that work tirelessly at the coal face of the nation’s hidden crime of domestic violence.