Domestic abuse is growing in Tipperary

Domestic abuse has increased by 11 per cent throughout Tipperary so far this year, and with the festive season still to come local representatives and gardaí fear the rate is likely to get higher.

The Garda Chief Superintendent for the county, Derek Smart, speaking at a Zoom meeting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee on Friday week, said that growing trends of domestic violence and abuse in the county reflected similar trends in the State in general. There had been 656 incidents recorded of this type of crime so far in the current year in Tipperary.

“We are up 11 per cent in the number of calls we are receiving in this category. We have received 656 reports,” he said.

BREACHES OF BARRING ORDERS

There had been 34 breaches of barring orders made by the courts in the county. All but one of those had resulted in a person being charged and at present before the courts.

The number of breaches of protection orders made by the courts was 35, 32 of which had resulted in persons being charged and brought to court. Some 22 were before the courts in the county for breaches of safety orders so far this year.

The Chief Superintendent said that when it came to domestic disputes of which gardaí were aware, the vast majority of people do not wish to make an official complaint when an officer called.

The force in the county had a support structure in place to ensure that callers who made a complaint were called back within a 24 hour period. The force also operated a Victim's Office in Templemore who did a further call back to ensure that the people involved in those incidents are aware of the supports that are available.

The Chief Superintendent said the vast majority of the 656 incidents - 547 - are cases where the complainant did not wish to make an official statement.

Of particular note, he said, was the “large volume” of incidents involving adult siblings and parents which were occurring since the pandemic restrictions had been introduced due to growing tensions within households.

CONFLICT

There were also other cases involving conflict between younger children and their parents that result in calls to homes by gardaí. “So obviously we go and support everybody as best we can and if we have any concerns we bring Tusla with us if any children are present.”

Committee Chairman, Cllr Noel Coonan, said the level of calls being received by gardaí in Tipperary “really rings the alarm bells”. What, he asked, should people do if they were aware of a case of domestic violence.

The Chief Superintendent urged people who are aware of a case to ring their local station or any garda station, or phone any of the help agencies. This could be done in a confidential manner.

Imelda Walsh, the Chairwoman of the North Tipperary branch of the IFA, asked if full services for victims of domestic violence would be available from the gardaí over the Christmas period. She felt it was vital to have extra resources in view of the stresses caused by the festive season.

The Chief Superintendent said there would be no dilution in services.

He told Councillor Siobhan Ambrose that he did not have figures with him in respect of males making complaints about domestic violence. She said there were a lot of people who were afraid to come forward and make complaints.

The Chief Superintendent said personnel were also trained to give males full support just as with female victims.