Perpetrators 'using court system to continue to abuse women' says chief of Cork support charity

The CEO of a Cork domestic violence service said that men are using the court system to continue to abuse their former partners, as a new report by Women’s Aid shows that the charity received its highest ever level disclosures of domestic abuse.

Eavan Ward, head of regional services at Women’s Aid, explained: “Last year, 33% of women in contact with our services were being subjected to domestic abuse from their ex-partner, confirming the harsh reality that for many victims of abuse, ending the relationship does not end the abuse.

“Many women have children with their abuser and needed to access the courts,” she said, but added that recent reports have shown that the family law system is failing many women and children.

Marie Mulholland, CEO at West Cork Beacon (formerly West Cork Women Against Violence), said that the figures represent “fairly similar kind of patterns in terms of a rise in domestic violence reporting” that are being seen in her service and across the country.

She said that they had seen examples of abuse from a former partner, explaining: “Perpetrators are using the courts to continue to abuse women who have left them.

“They are constantly dragging women into court for access or custody, and many of these men never cared that much about their children. They get them into court and women are being told by judges to give these men access, many of them are terrified of letting their children go.

“The men can manipulate or abuse the children, or use them to get back at the mother. I’ve heard countless stories of women who were told to give the father access in court, then he doesn’t turn up to pick the children up, or he drops them back early.

“It’s just about getting at their mum, and she has to pick up the broken pieces of the children after that happens. It’s a daily occurrence for women who’ve left their abusers. Abuse doesn’t end with the woman leaving, it just changes.” 

The Women’s Aid Annual Impact Report 2024 outlines 46,765 disclosures and 32,144 contacts nationally last year, representing a 12% increase in contacts and a 17% increase in disclosures, compared to 2023.

Ms Mullholland said: “Based on 13 years working on the frontline, I think we have been making progress in de-stigmatising victims of domestic violence… there are more victims contacting services.” 

An increasing publicity campaign on where to go for help and what domestic violence looks like can also be a reason for rising disclosures, which is a positive thing, she added.

“That’s not to say there isn’t more domestic violence happening out there. A sizeable amount of men still think in traditional gender roles, and believe that their partner and children are their property – as long as those men exist, we’ll continue to see domestic abuse.” 

Overall, Women's Aid said that in 2024 it received reports of assaults with weapons, constant surveillance, and monitoring, relentless put downs and humiliations, the taking and sharing of intimate images online, complete control over all family finances, sexual assault, rape and being threatened with theirs or their children’s lives.

Sarah Benson, chief executive officer of Women's Aid said: “The number and nature of the disclosures of abuse to our frontline services is utterly appalling. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Thirty five percent of women in Ireland suffer physical, psychological or sexual abuse from an intimate partner.”