Does eight years to select a site for a refuge to serve victims of domestic violence in Cavan Monaghan sound like a zero approach towards tackling this appalling crime?
That’s the question being posed by Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly, who, referencing the latest figures from Women’s Aid which show more than 1 in 3 women have experienced psychological, physical and/or sexual abuse from an intimate partner, said that she is ‘dismayed that establishing a refuge is taking so incredibly long”.
She said.
“Cavan is one of the nine counties across the country that doesn’t have a refuge space for domestic violence victims. Women who take that courageous step to leave their abuser should not have to travel across the country to find refuge. This places an additional emotional and financial hardship on victims who may already have limited access to money.
“In 2016 in Cavan, Alan Hawe murdered his wife Clodagh Hawe and their three sons Liam, Niall and Ryan. Since their devastating murder, Clodagh’s family have tirelessly campaigned for a refuge space in Cavan so victims of domestic violence can have a safe place to turn to”.
“8 years later and we are still only at the start of the site selection process for building a refuge in Cavan. This was deemed a phase 1 priority under the zero-tolerance strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. I’m sorry to say it but no concrete action over 8 years does not seem like a zero-tolerance approach to me”.
“In November last year Ministers McEntee and O’Brien welcomed the start of site selection process for building a domestic violence refuge in Cavan/Monaghan.
Only 5 days ago another Government TD said they are now ‘actively’ in the process of site selection.
Not only is this confusing, but I also find it quite insulting both to the memories of the beautiful women and families murdered or abused in their own homes and to the intelligence of constituents.
We need a definite timeline and immediate commitment to progress the development of the 8-unit refuge in Cavan/Monaghan.
Otherwise, I fear we’ll be here in another 6 months listening to the Government ‘welcoming’ this ongoing site selection”.
