Male victims of domestic violence are ignored

TOM KINDON (Irish Examiner letters, April 2) says when gender politics are discussed, ”many would prefer if only one side was allowed put its case.”

I agree, especially where domestic abuse or violence are concerned.

The National Crime Council report of 2005 showed that some men suffer domestic abuse or violence at the hands of women. Indeed the report says, among other things, that 29% of women and 23% of men suffer domestic abuse, and that 13% of both women and men suffer physical abuse.

Yet women receive over 99% of funding and have 15 refuges across the country, whereas male victims receive less than 1% and have no refuge available to them.

Yet this situation isn’t reflected in newspaper reports or TV programmes. While domestic violence against women gets widespread coverage, similar behaviour against men is rarely mentioned. There seems to be a form of denial, suggesting that men do not suffer domestic violence. This helps to foster the erroneous belief that they are always the abusers and women always the abused.

Imagine the outcry if women were demonised in this way. Yet, it seems men are expected to accept this injustice without complaint.

Brian Abbott

Glencairn

Bishopstown Road

Cork