Tag Archives: Clare Haven Services

Clare Haven Services plans to mark 16 Days of Action on Violence Against Women over the coming weeks. The 16 days of activism against gender-based violence is an annual international campaign which started on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until Human Rights Day on December 10. The United Nations have recognised violence against woman and girls as a very specific violence globally, and Clare Haven Services is opening up the initiative with this concept in mind. Because domestic abuse continues to happen unabated in the county, Clare Haven Services is aiming to raise awareness and call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. The organisation works to protect women and children who are already being subjected to abuse and violence in the home by providing frontline services such as refuge, outreach support and advocacy in the legal and judicial systems. It also works to prevent it happening …

CLARE HAVEN Services has launched four “powerful hard hitting” poems on a short video as part of the annual 16 Days of Action on Violence Against Women campaign. Den of Iniquity: Behind Closed Doors – Poetry on Film, is a collective of four short videos created by Paul Corey using the words of Feakle-based domestic abuse survivor, Liz Pouch, which were recited on camera by Ennistymon actor, Jacinta Sheeran. This novel media production was unveiled by Clare Haven manager, Dr Siobhán O’Connor who welcomed the participants for what proved to be an emotionally charged session on Friday afternoon in their educational and administration building. “It is a raw and gritty testimony of living through the horrors of abuse as both an adult and child. The films use the incredible acting skill of Jacinta Sheeran, who gave powerful recitations of the poems cutting to the heart of the pain and torment of the domestic abuse experience. The films can be viewed …

SAINT Francis Credit Union is contributing €4,000 to Clare Haven Services through its Social and Cultural Fund. The credit union embarked on the support as part of its community outreach and social engagement in the Clare area. The fund is designed to support non-profit organisations to a maximum of €4,000 and had a number of deserving applicants, such as Clare Haven Services. Speaking about the Social and Cultural Fund Louis Fay, CEO St Francis Credit Union, said, “Clare Haven Services is a well know support group in the Clare region, it is highly regarded within the community, and I know our members would be happy to support. “St Francis Credit Union is also non-profit organisation and is well aware of the importance of support from local business and communities throughout Co Clare. We look forward to seeing Clare Haven continue on with the incredible support they provide.” Dr Siobhán O’Connor, manager of Services, Clare Haven Services said: To be a …

Clare issues first protection order in court via video link CLARE was the first county to host a Protection Order application via video link last week in relation to alleged domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic. While men and women can’t make an application for these orders in person, they can contact the Family Law Office and make their application over the phone. If a person is isolating due to Covid-19 or unable to attend, they can speak to the clerk and may be accommodated via video link. Sergeant Caitríona Houlihan explained the first application for an online Protection Order concerned a woman that was isolating because of Covid-19. This was arranged by Clare Haven Services working with officials in the Clare Courts Service; the hearing took less than an hour. Sergeant Houlihan said while each case is dealt on its own merits, the pandemic is not a barrier to the application process. “Every case that comes into the Clare …

CLARE Haven Services has launched a new fundraising campaign seeking corporate donations to help cope with the dramatic increase in the demand for its services. Dr Siobhan O’Connor, Clare Haven Services manager, has confirmed there was a 21% increase in the number of people accessing their refuge from December 2019 to December 2020, which covers a large portion of the Covid-19 pandemic. There was also a similar hike in the number of people using the Clare Haven helpline during this period. Dr O’Connor said the increase shows the importance of having services like Clare Haven available at a localised specialised level and the complexity of domestic abuse, as survivors need a selection of choices and supports. With great determination, Clare Haven and its supporters have worked tirelessly throughout Covid-19 to ensure that all women and children who reached out for help and support have the comfort and knowledge that they will be supported by this service for women and their …

THE number of people accessing the refuge provided by Clare Haven Services during the Covid-19 pandemic was four times higher than the reported incidence of domestic abuse to gardai, The Clare Champion can reveal. Figures released to by Justice Minister Heather Humphreys to Deputy Michael McNamara show the incidence of domestic abuse crime and non-crime incidents that were reported to the Clare Garda Division increased by 5% from 638 in the period April 2019 to March 2020 to 670 between April 2020 to March 2021. Crime incidents include any incident with a recorded motive of “domestic abuse”. Non-crime incidents are of the PULSE incident type “domestic dispute – no offence disclosed”. Clare Haven Services manager, Dr Siobhan O’Connor has confirmed there was a 21% increase in the number of people accessing their refuge from December 2019 to December 2020, which covers a large portion of the Covid-19 pandemic. There was also a similar hike in the number of people using …

THE courageous decision taken by South Galway mother Sourney Linnane to publicly outline her experience of coercive control has been praised by Clare Haven House manager, Dr Siobhán O’Connor. Dr O’Connor praised Ms Linnane for taking the “incredibly brave” step of waving her anonymity to raise important issues affecting victims of domestic abuse in a bid to improve services for others in similar situations. “It is an incredibly brave thing what Sourney Linnane did. The fact she has survived what she went through and came out the other side and was still so cognisant of the benefit of sharing her story is commendable. “Sourney is so passionate about ensuring that everyone understands the insidiousness of coercive control. “She is such a brave and honourable woman. She has put a spotlight on the gaps in the system where she feels it let her down.” Dr O’Connor stressed there is an onus on the government to address the deficits that Ms Linnane …

CLARE Haven Services are continuing to shine a light on violence against women having launched a very special virtual candlelit remembrance. Despite Covid-19 the local organisation is currently marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. This annual international campaign running from November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, until December 10, Human Rights Day aims to raise awareness and to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Clare Haven’s annual candle-lit walk through the streets of Ennis remembering women and children killed by partners or ex-partners is not possible due to Covid-19. However, Clare Haven Services have joined forces with artist Emma Houlihan, Clare County Library and An Garda Siochana in developing a virtual lighted walk. Dr Siobhán O’Connor, Manager of Services, Clare Haven Services explains, “For the last 12 years, to remember the women who have been killed in County Clare by their partners or ex-partners, Clare …