Longford Women's Link back call to remove violent abusers from homes instead of victims

Longford Women's Link Domestic Abuse Service would welcome any government lead reforms that would promote the improvement of Safety and supports regarding accommodation.

The local organisation offered their backing to Sonas, Ireland’s largest provider of domestic violence services, who calling on the Government and local authorities to introduce urgent reforms to council housing policy.

Sonas said these reforms should ensure perpetrators of domestic violence are removed from the family home, rather than forcing women and children to leave.

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Sonas is urging immediate interim action through local authorities.

Specifically, Sonas is calling for the introduction of a clause in council housing contracts nationwide that would allow for the removal and rehousing of perpetrators of domestic violence, ensuring victims can remain safely in their homes.

Natalie O’Reilly, a Domestic Abuse Response Co-Ordinator with Longford Women's Link, said for many women and children, they are left with no option but to leave there home due to fear and further escalation of abuse that can result in serious harm psychologically and physically perpetrated by a partner or ex partner.

"Victims’ rights to a safe familiar home should take president over the rights of abusers but unfortunately that’s still not the case, woman are far to often left with options to stay and endure further abuse or leave and start all over again from zero, the choices women have are very limiting and often favours the abuser.

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"We do need a shift in prioritising victims to have the choice to stay in a home they have created and the familiarity that the children have in that home, and not to add further layers of extreme worry and stress by moving location."

To read the full story see next Wednesday's edition of the Longford Leader