Motion for Domestic Violence Refuge Centre gains support at Council meeting

Calls for a refuge centre in Leitrim and greater supports for victims of domestic violence have intensified following the widely publicised lenient sentence given to Cathal Crotty, who attacked Natasha O'Brien in Limerick in 2022.

This issue was raised at last week's Council meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon, where Cllr Róisín Kenny proposed a motion asking senior figures when a refuge centre can be expected in the county and if it can be included in the County Development Plan.

The motion, seconded by Cllr Mary Bohan and Cllr Eddie Mitchell, received strong support from other councillors.

“Just a few weeks ago there was a report by Women's Aid and they recorded a record number of reports of gender based violence. They received more than 40,000 disclosures of abuse against women and children in 2023 and that was a jump of eighteen percent on the previous year,” Cllr Kenny said.

“That's only those who reported to Women's Aid. It doesn't include those suffering in silence.

“Leitrim is one of the nine counties in the State that still has no shelter for those fleeing from domestic abuse. There's no refuge in Cavan, Longford, Roscommon or Sligo; so that's all our surrounding counties as well as ourselves lacking this service.”

According to the Istanbul Convention which was ratified by Ireland in 2019, there should be one refuge unit for every 10,000 women and girls aged 15 and over.

“Refuges provide a safe haven for those escaping abusive relationships where victims can live while deciding their next steps and the supports that they need,” she said.

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Cllr Kenny told the Council that she had been in contact with Carmel McNamee, Manager of Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS), who referenced the five-year Government strategy on zero tolerance against domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

“It's very welcome and it's a very useful document but at the end of the day, if it's not implemented, all it is, is a piece of paper.

“I want to commend the Housing department in particular as they're very helpful to anyone that is fleeing violence and often get emergency accommodation for these women.

“But it's not just about refuge, there should be different facilities like counselling services and Garda supports.”

Director of Housing, Corporate, Community and Cultural Services, Mary Quinn said, “We are awaiting the publication of the national strategy, so we will then have a more in depth look at that as far as where our responsibilities might lie.

“We would be happy to work with her (Carmel McNamee) going forward,” Ms Quinn continued.

“In terms of the County Development Plan, the plan has only been adopted so I'm unsure whether it's something that may come up in the review,” she added.

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Cllr Reynolds-Flynn requested that Leitrim County Council urge the Minister of Health and the HSE to lift the employment embargo.

Chief Executive, Joseph Gilhooly said, “As issues arise in the review, there can be alterations made. The strategy is something we have to look at.”