Demand for women's refuge in Cavan and Monaghan

Better services and supports for victims of domestic violence, including the provision of a dedicated refuge, are being demanded for counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Cavan Sinn Féin TD Pauline Tully has been challenging the Minister for Justice in the Dáil on the measures taken to protect victims of domestic violence, particularly during the recent lockdown (video of full address below).

She began her address in Dáil Éireann by paying tribute to one of her former pupils Sonia Lee and her family. Sonia was left with life-changing injuries after an attack by her former fiancé Lance Dempsey who was sentenced to 11 years earlier this week.

Deputy Tully commended the Lees for their "strength and resilience".

She demanded a review of sentencing for perpetrators of non fatal attacks, saying in her view the sentences being handed down were too lenient.

Referring to "truly shocking" statistics, Deputy Tully revealed that at least one in three women will encounter violence at some stage in their lives from a current or former partner, with one in seven enduring severe or life threatening abuse.

The recently elected TD herself is a survivor of an attack by a former partner. Her ex-husband Pearse McAuley is serving 12 years in prison with the final two suspended for an attack on Deputy Tully in her home on Christmas Eve 2014.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Tully revealed "frightening" figures: "Since 1996 up to the end of last year, 230 women had been killed in Ireland as a result of domestic abuse, that's an average of 10 per year. Most were killed in their own homes.

"It's an intolerable situation and it can't be allowed to continue," she said.

The Deputy is demanding an interagency, cross departmental approach; as well as better co-operation between departments such as Health, Housing and Social Welfare.

She said victims need "the resources and the personnel to act in a collaborative manner to better protect women from abusive partners".

The deputy also referred to a shortage of available and affordable accommodation at short notice.

The Council of Europe recommends one refuge per 100,000 of population. In Ireland, that should equate to 446 refuge places but Deputy Tully pointed out there are only 143.

"This is simply not good enough and must be addressed as a matter of priority by the next incoming government," she said.

Referring to her own constituency of Cavan Monaghan, Deputy Tully said there was a "severe lack of emergency accommodation available". She said there is no refuge and just three staff to assist women across two counties, a situation she described as "dire".

"It beggars belief that, in a supposedly modern, progressive society, women whose lives may be at risk of serious violence have no safe haven to turn to," she continued.

Deputy Tully demanded that the recommendations contained in the Istanbul Convention, which Ireland signed up to last year, be implemented without delay.

She further commended the gardaí and the courts service for their response to reports of abuse in the home, in particular during the recent lockdown.

Deputy Tully asked also if there are plans to set up domestic homicide review mechanism with powers to make and monitor recommendations on the response to domestic violence.

She also called for a dedicated Minister or Oireachtas Group to bring together representatives of the relevant authorities and services to ensure a multi-agency approach to deal with this issue.

The deputy further demanded the restoration of pay and conditions for staff working in this area.

Lastly, hitting out at some media outlets for their coverage of domestic violence and related deaths, she said it leaves a lot to be desired.

In particular, she took issue with domestic violence related deaths being described as tragedies.

"Tragedy implies an unfortunate incident that could have been avoided such as an accident. Domestic violence resulting in death is just plain murder and it such be called such. Otherwise we run the risk of normalising the sickening abuse of women when they are targeted by their violent and unrepentant partners," she concluded.

Meanwhile, to read about the Lee family's reaction to Lance Dempsey's sentence,

click here.