Gardaí must record evidence

The fact that the number of convictions for domestic violence in 2002 fell by 50% is a distortion of the reality that exists in too many homes throughout the country.

Far from pointing to a reduction in this deplorable crime, there were 10,248 cases recorded, which was an increase on the previous year. Put simply, there were, on average, 28 incidents of domestic violence every single day of the year.

Yet there were only 651 convictions, which indicates that the majority of victims are not prepared to pursue the perpetrators through the criminal justice system to be dealt with by the courts. The huge disparity in the number of cases of domestic violence and the fraction which is prosecuted successfully, underlies the fact that a new approach is needed by the authorities to this type of crime.