Domestic Abuse

A proposed automatic bar on alleged domestic abusers cross-examining complainants should be extended from the criminal courts to include the family courts, the Bar Council of Northern Ireland has said. In a written submission to the call for written evidence on the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedi

Men will not be able to advance the legal defence that their partner was accidentally killed in a "sex game gone wrong" under new domestic abuse legislation being considered by MPs. Campaign group We Can't Consent To This has identified at least 60 women from the UK who have been killed in recent ye

The Irish courts are “not fit for purpose” as far as dealing with violence against women is concerned, experts have said. The legal process frequently re-traumatises women, a UN special rapporteur and NGO leaders told viewers in a webinar hosted by Orla O’Connor of the National Wom

The number of domestic abuse crimes recorded by police in Northern Ireland have reached a 15-year high. There were 18,640 domestic abuse crimes recorded by the PSNI between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020, an increase of 15 per cent on the previous year and the highest figure recorded since the start

People fleeing domestic abuse will be able to access free public transport under plans being developed by the Departments of Justice and Infrastructure. Justice Minister Naomi Long and Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon agreed to work together to explore the idea after a meeting yesterday.

Strangulation is a substantial, separate and distinct aggravating feature to be taken into account in sentencing for domestic violence, appeal judges in Belfast have emphasised while dismissing an appeal against sentence. The Court of Appeal this morning upheld the 12-month prison sentence handed do

Legislation to create a new domestic abuse offence for Northern Ireland is being debated at the second stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Addressing a small number of MLAs in the chamber earlier this afternoon, Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was pleased to bring the bill forward, "even th

A new awareness campaign has been launched to ensure that victims of domestic abuse know services are still available in spite of the coronavirus pandemic. New TV and radio ads now airing reflect the particular issues raised for some by the need to stay at home because of restrictions introduced to

Legislation to create a new domestic abuse offence for Northern Ireland has been introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill 2020 aims to criminalise patterns of controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as physical abuse, against a partner, former p

An Garda Síochána has announced a crackdown on domestic abuse during the coronavirus pandemic. The Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) is overseeing the implementation of "Operation Faoisimh", which is designed to ensure that victims of domestic abuse are supported and pr

Proposed new domestic violence laws will take up to a year to come into effect to allow for training across the justice system, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said. Ms Long is planning to introduce legislation to make it an offence for a person to engage in a course of abusive behaviour (on two or

Certain domestic abuse offenders in England and Wales will have to take lie detector tests after their release from custody under new UK government plans. A three-year pilot will see mandatory polygraph examinations imposed on "high risk" offenders three months after release and every six months aft

A man in Donegal has become the first person to be convicted of coercive control in Ireland. The offence was established under the Domestic Violence Act 2018, which came into effect just over a year ago.

Domestic abuse legislation will be introduced at Stormont by April or May this year, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said. Department of Justice officials "are currently working with legislative counsel to finalise a Domestic Abuse Bill for introduction locally", she said.

Legislation to criminalise abusive behaviour in domestic and close family relationships will be brought forward in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The UK government had come under pressure to legislate in Northern Ireland before the restoration of Stormont, but Justice Minister Naomi Long said she no