Control and power lie at heart of domestic abuse

THE term domestic violence is something that is often spoken about, but surprisingly many people know little about it.  In fact domestic violence is not actually defined in Irish legislation. There is the misconception that domestic violence can only happen in the home and only relates to a husband assaulting his wife.

However domestic violence is much more: in fact, it’s considered to be the physical, sexual, financial, emotional or psychological abuse of one person against another within a family environment or by an intimate partner currently or previously, regardless of gender or sexuality. It is not exclusive to one socio-economic group, or to one type of victim, gender or profession.

Domestic abuse is about control and power: it’s not about anger issues, substance abuse, culture or childhood experiences, and certainly not about the behaviour of the victim. Research has shown victims will endure over thirty incidents of domestic abuse prior to contacting the police.

Domestic abuse is insidious, pernicious and coercive and in many cases victims do not acknowledge the fact they are even being abused. In many cases the victim will engage in coping mechanisms to try and prevent the abuse; de-escalate the situation; or appease the abuser; but this more often than not, this doesn’t solve the problem.

The Domestic Violence Act 2018 which came into law on January 1 of this year is landmark legislation which significantly enhanced the legal protections available to victims of this appalling form of violence. It introduced new offences such as prohibiting the publication or broadcast of certain matters; forced marriages and coercive control.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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