Gardai domestic violence record slammed in report

DAMNING findings by the Garda Inspectorate on the handling of domestic violence cases by the force have come as no surprise to local campaigners on the issue.

Rita Harling, from Finglas, and Priscilla Grainger, Navan Road, have been leading calls for Garda reform since founding the Do or Die Foundation in February 2013.

Last month, Northside People reported how the foundation had been instrumental in the drafting of a Dail report designed to form the basis of improved legislation.

The foundation had claimed that current laws weren’t being implemented and protection orders not always upheld, complaints that the Inspectorate report has backed up.

Do or Die recently gave a local talk on domestic violence where 60 per cent of attendees had been victims. The foundation found that 100 per cent of those attending had no faith in the gardai.

Last week’s report found limited evidence that domestic violence policy is monitored by gardai and there was no recorded evidence at all that Garda inspectors were checking calls or ensuring accurate recording of cases.

Current Garda domestic violence policy demands callbacks within a month but the report states that follow-up visits don’t always happen.

Other worrying findings for victims include a low volume of arrests in comparison to the number of incidents and a difference in the treatment of victims where court orders were in place.

“It’s an absolute disgrace,” said Priscilla. “Rita and I have been saying this for so long.

“There are laws there, the safety orders are there, the protection orders are there, but the guards aren’t implementing them. And it’s all there in the report. They’re doing nothing in a lot of cases.”

The report states that domestic violence “often accounts for almost half of all murders that are committed” and suggests that an effective response reduces repeat crimes and the effects on immediate and secondary victims.

It also highlights an inconsistent approach to dealing with victims, with some garda” unaware of the complex reasons why some return to their abusive partners.

Reccomendations in the report include a need for Garda Siochana to re-appraise both its strategic and operational response to domestic violence, along with four other key crimes selected by the Inspectorate.

It also pointed out that other police services have multi-agency groups that focus on repeat victims and violent offenders.

The Inspectorate recommends that the Garda Siochana creates and implements minimum standards on domestic violence.

Dublin West councilor David McGuinness (FF) met with Priscilla Grainger last week to discuss Do or Die’s initiative to finally see domestic violence deemed a specific crime.

“The significance of her work is emphasised by the scathing comments made within the Inspectorate report, which highlights Garda failings in the area of domestic abuse, the recording of such incidents and the disgraceful treatment of victims of abuse through inappropriate comments,” he said.