Domestic violence remains a profound challenge across Ireland and the recent research highlights the plight of abuse survivors through the Court system, with one participant describing it as:
“It is one of the worst things I’ve ever been through. Ever. I sometimes put it down as worse than some of the things that he did, because of what resulted from it,”
The Domestic Violence Act 2018 frames the legal response allowing for urgent and long-term protection of individuals in domestic settings.
| Order Type | Purpose | Duration |
| Protection Order | Emergency measure available while awaiting a full hearing. | Up to the hearing of the Safety Order |
| Interim Barring Order | Emergency barring without notifying respondent. | Up to 8 days |
| Safety Order | Prevents further violence or threats; does not require removal from home. | Up to 5 years |
| Barring Order | Requires the respondent to leave the shared home. | Up to 3 years |
Available to spouses, cohabitants, parents, intimate partners, and certain relatives, these orders are primarily processed through the District Court. Breach of any Order is a criminal offence. Gardaí can arrest without a warrant for violations of Domestic Violence Orders, and legal aid may be accessible.
Insights from Women’s Aid – 2023/2024 Research
Recent research from Women’s Aid reveals a deeply troubling rise in abuse reports, clearly indicating that while legal frameworks exist, abuse persists at alarming levels:
- In 2023, 40,048 disclosures of domestic abuse were made to Women’s Aid—an 18% increase from 2022 and the highest number ever recorded.
- Physical violence rose by 74%, economic abuse by 87%, alongside emotional and sexual abuse.
- Many women reported extreme forms of coercive control: threats, financial manipulation, surveillance, and sharing intimate images.
- Of 1,068 applicants for domestic violence orders in 2023, 87% had orders granted. However, only half found the legal process “good/helpful/understanding”.
Recommendations Moving Forward
- Enhance judicial awareness: Mandatory and ongoing DVA training for judges, solicitors, barristers, court staff, and Gardaí to understand coercive control and vulnerabilities.
- Support survivors post-separation: Embed protections for likelihood of continued abuse in post-separation family law proceedings.
- Strengthen holistic responses: Beyond orders, survivors need coordinated access to housing, counselling services, economic supports, and legal aid.
- Ensure accessibility for all: Implement Women’s Aid’s recommendations that ensure courts and services are fully accessible and responsive to disabled and other marginalised groups.
- Monitor systemic reform: Implement data-based oversight.
Conclusion
Domestic violence orders are crucial, but legal protection cannot stand alone. The surge in abuse cases, especially economic and physical, reveals a system under strain. Reforming how orders are delivered and enforced, while bolstering victim-support infrastructure, is essential.
For further information on this or any other Family Law matter please do not hesitate to contact one of our Family Law solicitors, Brendan Dillon, Emma Dillon, Alice Downey, or Simone Murray on 01 296 0666.
