Applications for domestic violence orders increase in Cork as ‘women terrified’

New data has revealed an increase in the number of applications for domestic violence orders in Cork between 2022 and 2023, with one town seeing a rise of almost 90%, as an MEP and former family law barrister said that more supports are needed for “terrified” women.

Some 2,338 people in Cork applied to the district courts in 2023 for a domestic violence order, up from 2,025 the previous year.

From January to September, 2024, a further 1,796 people applied for orders at a rate of 200 per month.

This compared to 195 per month in 2023 and 169 per month in 2022.

Cork city had the highest number of applications for a domestic violence order at 1,420 applications in 2023, followed by Mallow (271), Midleton (187), Fermoy (104), Clonakilty (91), Bandon (81), Macroom (80), Youghal (44), with both Skibbereen and Bantry having 30 applications.

Increases

There were increases in the number of domestic violence orders applied for between 2022 and 2023 in Cork city, Bandon, Bantry, Clonakilty, Macroom, Mallow, and Midleton, while Youghal, Skibbereen, and Fermoy recorded decreases.

Clonakilty District Court recorded a large increase in the number of domestic violence orders applied for between 2022 and 2023, going from 48 to 91 applications, an increase of almost 90%.

Only 53% of applications for domestic violence protection orders in Cork were granted in 2023, a slight decrease from the 54% of applications granted in 2022.

Between January and September last year, 960 of the 1,796 domestic violence orders applied for at district court level in Cork were granted.

Nightmares

“So many victims, mostly women, are enduring unthinkable nightmares in their own homes,” said Ireland South MEP and former family law barrister Cynthia Ní Mhurchú. “We need a more victim-centred approach.

“Domestic violence support agencies are excellent at helping women to navigate the district court system. It is so important that we continue to ramp up funding for them. They empower the women, help them to fill in the forms, and navigate the legal issues.

“Without them, the women would be very much on their own.

“These women are often terrified. I have had to kneel in the corner of the lobby of a district court in rural Ireland giving advice to a victim of domestic violence whilst her abuser stood at the other side of the hall staring at us. That is very frightening.

“Without supports, these women often give up and go home.

“It is not right. We need our district court system to be more compassionate, more accommodating, and more sensitive to domestic violence cases.”

Ms Ní Mhurchú proposed the need for more district court judges to deal specifically with family law cases, more consultation rooms for victims in district courts, and continued training for district and circuit court judges.

She said she will be requesting a meeting with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to discuss what further actions can be rolled out.