Women urged to be aware of abuse risk

A SOUTHSIDE TD has called for women to be aware of the risk factors when it comes to domestic abuse.

Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor (FG) said all women needed to be aware of the risk to themselves or close friends and family, in order to improve response times and prevent future deaths.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor was speaking after a minute’s silence was organised by Women’s Aid outside the Dáil last week.

“Today I took part in the Women’s Aid one minute’s silence in remembrance of the 78 women murdered in Ireland by their partners or ex-partners since 1996,

? Deputy Mitchell O’Connor.

“We also remembered the 10 children who were murdered alongside their mothers.

“The motivation behind the minute’s silence was to encourage people to think about the signs of domestic abuse and to be aware of these for yourself, or in order to watch out for friends and family.

? According to Women’s Aid, there were almost 18,000 incidents of domestic violence disclosed to their National Freephone Helpline in 2013.

In the same year, 575 incidents of sexual abuse were disclosed to helpline support workers including 201 rapes.

“It is frightening to think that one in every two women murdered is killed by a current or former boyfriend, partner or husband,

? Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said.

“For the 78 women and 10 children we were remembering today, Women’s Aid laid out 88 pairs of shoes reminding us that these were real people who found themselves in terrible situations.

“People find domestic abuse very difficult to deal with. Irish people in particular are conscious of invading somebody’s privacy as we don’t want to be accused of interfering.

“However it is vital that people in relationships are aware that physical abuse, threats to kill, controlling behaviour, stalking and harassment are not normal. People who think any of these things may be happening to someone else, should speak out. It is also important to be aware that times of separation can often be most dangerous for women in abusive relationships.

?

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor added:

“I would appeal to everyone, women especially, to be aware of the risk factors involved in domestic abuse, to ask for help and to try to stop the cycle of violence. I would also like to pass on my condolences to the families of the women remembered today.

?