Tag Archives: Safe Ireland

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 …

NEW figures reveal that three Clare children were forced to spend Christmas Day in a refuge because of domestic abuse in their home. The data, which highlights the added pressure on the refuge operated by Clare Haven during the second lockdown last year, have been described by the service manager as “shocking”. Figures contained in the national report ‘Tracking the Shadow Pandemic – Lockdown 2,’ show that ten women and 17 children were given refuge, safety and security at Clare Haven in the month of November. A further 72 helpline calls were received to the service in that month alone, where we gave emotional support and information to women living with domestic abuse. A total of four women and 13 children were given refuge in December. Over the course of 2020, 88 women were in refuge in Clare up from the 79 in 2019 and 81 in 2018. “Even in an extraordinary time of crisis, these numbers are shocking,” said …

A RESOURCE pack for professionals working with children and families, ahead of what is expected to be a particularly difficult Christmas for people affected by domestic abuse has been developed by a network of agencies including An Garda Síochana, Tusla, community support services, legal services and health service providers in County Clare. The Domestic Abuse Resource Pack has been undertaken jointly by The Clare Local Area Network Opposing Violence Against Women (CLAN)* and Tusla Clare Prevention Partnership and Family Support (Clare PPFS) and is supported by Safe Ireland. The network group decided to be proactive ahead of what is expected to be a very difficult time for many families, by launching an interactive, one-stop-shop, of relevant information and supports for those subjected to domestic abuse, their families and the professionals on the frontline supporting them.  This specially designed interactive document and information booklet will be available on the Clare Haven Services website not just at Christmas, but will remain active as …

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 …