Domestic Violence

Women's Aid has launched a new Centre for Learning and Practice Development which aims to transform how Irish society understands and responds to domestic abuse and coercive control.

Northern Ireland's economy minister has reiterated plans to introduce paid leave for victims of domestic abuse by May 2027. Dr Caoimhe Archibald said she intended to have legislation to implement the provisions in the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act (NI) 2022 in place before the end of the Asse

New legislation will allow for information-sharing between An Garda Síochána and schools in order to strengthen protection for children impacted by violence in the home. The general scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025

A public register of convicted domestic abusers is to be established under new legislation which will also strengthen the law on sexual consent. Ministers yesterday approved the general scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025, which wil

Solicitor Claire Edgar has presented to a European conference on the impact of Northern Ireland's 2021 domestic abuse legislation. Ms Edgar, a partner and specialist in domestic violence and family law at Belfast firm Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors, was a guest speaker at the European Conference

Survivors and victims of domestic abuse are to be exempted from immigration registration fees. Regulations signed into effect by the minister of state for migration, Colm Brophy, will waive the €300 fee in order to remove a financial barrier to leaving an abusive relationship.

New research exploring the experiences of LGBTQIA+ victims of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland has been launched.

More resources are urgently needed in the family law system, a leading solicitor has said after new figures from Women's Aid revealed reports of domestic violence are at a record high. Women's Aid said its national and regional frontline services were contacted 32,144 times in 2024, an increase of 1

Judges, lawyers and court staff need to better understand domestic violence and abuse to prevent the "secondary victimisation" of victims and survivors, a new report into the Irish family law system has said. Women's Aid commissioned researchers at Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork

The Supreme Court is to consider key legal issues regarding the correct approach to sentencing in cases of violence within intimate-partner relationships, The Irish Times reports. The case centres on an appeal by Soufiane Mountassir, 40, whose prison term was almost doubled after he forced his then-

One in every two people who have reported domestic abuse to An Garda Síochána are dissatisfied with their overall experience, according to a new report. The Garda Inspectorate yesterday published a report on the force's approach to prevention, protection, prosecution and victim support

Northern Ireland’s Court of Appeal has provided sentencing guidance on the new offence of "non-fatal strangulation" (NFS). Delivering judgment for the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Seamus Treacy remarked that “it is the duty of sentencing judges in Northern Ireland to give effect to the

Northern Ireland's justice minister is to launch reporting guidelines aimed at helping news organisations report effectively and sensitively on domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. First released in 2019, the Responsible Reporting Matters framework calls for journalists not to over-s

A new advocacy service for victims of sexual and domestic abuse in Northern Ireland is to be launched later this year. ASSIST NI will provide an adult service for victims who are aged 18 and above, and a separate service for children and young people who are 17 years of age and below, who are engagi

Upcoming reforms to the family courts could negatively impact victims of domestic abuse, a leading practitioner has warned as new figures reveal huge increases in applications for domestic violence orders. There was a nine per cent increase in applications for domestic violence orders in the Distric