Tag Archives: Coercive Control

A SOUTH Galway survivor of coercive control has called on the Justice Minister to change the law on protection and barring orders to safeguard people who have suffered abuse, writes Dan Danaher. Sourney Linnane believes a barring order should be attached to any person who has suffered abuse and should not be tied to a particular address. The mother-of-three previously got a barring order prohibiting her former partner Kilrush man, Martin Mulqueen from visiting her at Bawn Street, Roscommon. This order, however, is non-transferable and she feels it is now effectively useless, having moved to another part of the West of Ireland. Martin Mulqueen (53), Ballynote, Kilrush, but with an address in Bawn Street, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, was the third person to be jailed for coercive control in Ireland. In March 2021, Mulqueen received a combined sentence of 54 months, with the final 20 months suspended for four years. The sentence was backdated to the time he went into custody. …

A MAN has appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting and falsely imprisoning a woman on multiple occasions over a two-year period in Clare. The 47-year-old man has also been charged with coercive control of his spouse in what is understood to be the first domestic violence charge of its kind to be brought before the courts in Clare. In total, the man is facing 22 charges comprising 12 counts of sexual assault; six counts of false imprisonment; two counts of assault causing harm; one count of criminal damage and one count of coercive control. The charges arise from alleged offences at two locations in Clare, allegedly committed on various dates between 2018 and 2020. The case concerns one alleged female victim. The charge of coercive control states that on a date unknown between January 1, 2019 and May 5, 2020, the accused man did knowingly and persistently engage in behaviour that was controlling or coercive and which had a …

ISSUES raised by a South Galway mother-of-three, who survived a harrowing experience of coercive control, are central to the ongoing work of a national organisation, it emerged this week. Safe Ireland is working to erase the silence, secrecy and shame surrounding coercive control and domestic violence so that those in abusive relationships can make new lives without stigma and with proper support pathways in place. Chief Executive Officer, Mary McDermott has praised Sourney Linnane for showing tremendous courage by waiving her anonymity and speaking publicly in the Clare Champion about her experience of coercive control. “Safe Ireland hope Sourney is well and is fully supported locally on her extremely difficult journey. The issues she raised are central to our ongoing work. We have engaged formally on them through our many submissions to government.” She acknowledged the four key points Ms Linnane has raised in a recent interview are significant issues. While a barring order is attached to an address, Ms …

CLARE’s Oireachtas members need to address deficits in services for people who have suffered from various forms of abuse as highlighted by South Galway mother-of-three Sourney Linnane. That’s according to Clare Haven manager, Dr Siobhan O’Connor, who stressed it is vital that the voices of women who suffered from coercive control and other forms of domestic abuse must be heard and addressed in the formation of a new updated national strategy on domestic sexual and gender based violence in Ireland. Dr O’Connor acknowledged there was a huge increase in domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic, which was addressed with additional funding for Clare Haven from Tusla, Clare County Council and the Department of Community and Rural Development. There was a 21% in the demand for the service across the board, the Clare Haven helpline numbers went up by 24% and the numbers using their refuge increased by more than 20% from December 2019 to December 2020. “20% more women and …

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 …

A WOMAN, who claimed she was almost choked and slashed with a knife in one terrifying incident and “beaten to a pulp” in another attack by a Kilrush man, has spoken publicly for the first time. Sourney Linnane, who is a native of Pollagh, Ballinderreen, has waived her anonymity to launch a campaign to dramatically improve the statutory rights and state support services for anyone suffering from all forms of physical and psychological abuse. The mother-of-three has requested interim Justice Minister Heather Humphreys to introduce a statutory right for any victim of coercive control, domestic abuse, rape or any form of serious physical and mental abuse to be told about the official release date of their convicted perpetrator from prison. Martin Mulqueen (53), Ballynote, Kilrush, but with an address in Bawn Street, Strokestown, County Roscommon, was the third person to be jailed for coercive control in Ireland recently. Mulqueen pleaded guilty during this trial to three sample charges, including coercive …

THE Clare Women’s Network, together with Safe Ireland, will are hosting an  important one-day conference on domestic violence in Ennis on Friday (December 14). The event, ‘Understand and Responding to Coercive Control’ showcases leading experts in the field of domestic violence and law. Keynote speakers include expert on coercive control, Professor Evan Stark. Professor Stark in his award winning research illustrates the terrifying techniques men use to control their partners, strategies that Stark argues are more effective in trapping women in relationships than physical violence. Other speakers include Davina James-Hanman an independent Violence Against Women Consultant. Davina has worked in the field of violence against women for over three decades in a variety of capacities. The final presenter will be Caroline Counihan BL. Caroline has worked with Safe Ireland since 2014. Her role at Safe Ireland includes policy work and advocacy to help improve the legal system for all domestic violence survivors, including her extensive work on the Domestic Violence …