Information for Survivors of Domestic Violence

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Here you will find information on support services local to you and national helplines. There is information on how different bodies of the State can help you seek protection and justice for what has happened. You can find information on different forms of domestic violence which may help you come to terms with what has happened to you. There is information on how to make a Safety Plan to leave an abusive relationship and how to stay safe online.

Cuan – The National DSGBV Agency, also runs the Always Here campaign to raise awareness of support services to victims of DSGBV. Go to Alwayshere.ie to learn more about that campaign.

There are national helplines for both men and women who are victims/survivors of domestic violence. These helplines can provide help, advice and support to anyone who reaches out to them. They can also provide information on services local to you.

If you are in immediate danger, please call An Garda Síochána on 999/112 for assistance.

• Women’s Aid run a 24-hour National Freephone Helpline for women subjected to domestic violence. Call 1800 341 900
• The Male Advice Line offers confidential advice and support to Male victims of domestic violence over the phone. Call 1800 816 588.

If you are under 18 go to https://www.alwayshere.ie/people-under-18/ for support information.

There are also a large number of local support services to help victims of DSGBV throughout Ireland. Here is a link to an link to an interactive map where you can find your local service.

If you are a member of the LGBT community and are a victim of interpersonal or domestic violence, then you can call the National LGBT Helpline on 1800 929 539 for help and support. You can find more information on the helpline and other services at https://lgbt.ie/our-services/

An Garda Síochána

An Garda Síochána is available to help and support anyone who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence. If you are subjected to this kind of violence or abuse, or if you know someone who is, you should contact your local Garda station, or in an emergency call 999/112.

Domestic abuse incidents, including coercive control, will continue to receive the highest priority response for service by gardaí. Increasing numbers of gardaí are on our streets and in our communities and they are ready to assist and protect victims of domestic abuse.

For information, support and resources in relation to domestic and sexual violence, please see the Garda Síochána website.

The Courts Service

The Courts will deal with urgent cases involving domestic violence applications as a priority, so if you need a protection or interim barring order contact your local court office.

While asking for help for a domestic abuse situation can be difficult, Courts Service staff know what to do. All you need to say is ‘I need to apply for a domestic violence order’. Courts Service staff are fully trained and can help guide you through the process.

If you have a solicitor representing you, please contact them to discuss your situation. A list of solicitors is available at the Law Society’s website.

The Legal Aid Board

If you need to speak to someone about protection from an abusive spouse, partner or other family member, you can contact the Legal Aid Board.

If you live in Dublin, you should call 01 675 5566. This is an emergency number for Domestic Violence applications in Dublin and there are staff on standby to assist you. If you live outside Dublin you should contact your local Legal Aid Board law centre. A list of law centres is available on the Legal Aid Board’s website.

Legal Aid Board law centres are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 – 12.30 and 14:00 – 16.00.

Legal Aid Board staff can also provide you with information on how to apply for legal and mediation services, the financial eligibility criteria, the merits criteria, what mediation is, and how it works.

The term ‘domestic violence’ goes beyond actual physical violence. It can also involve emotional abuse; the destruction of property; isolation from friends, family and other potential sources of support; threats to others including children; stalking; and control over access to money, personal items, food, transportation and the telephone.

It occurs in all social classes, all ethnic groups and among people of every educational background.

It can be described as the use of physical or emotional force or the threat of physical force, including sexual violence in close adult relationships.

Domestic violence profoundly affects the physical, emotional, social and financial wellbeing of individuals and families. It is perpetrated against a person by that person’s spouse, intimate partner, ex-partner, other family members and/or another person at home. Domestic violence is a pattern of repeated abusive and controlling behaviours that occurs within an intimate or family relationship and may even continue after the relationship has ended.

Click on a heading below to learn more about each form of domestic violence:

• Physical
• Emotional
• Sexual
• Intimate Image Abuse
• Financial
• Social
• Online

If you are a victim/survivor of domestic violence, you can seek protection from the courts by applying for a court order. They are made by a judge and come with specific instructions or directions. Some direct a person accused of abusive behaviour to stop committing further acts or threats of violent behaviour. Others direct that person to leave - and stay away from - you and your dependent children (if applicable) and the home. You will need to explain to the judge in court why you are asking for a specific order.

If you are the person asking for an order to protect you from acts or threats of domestic violence you are known as the applicant. The person you are asking the court to make an order against is called the respondent.

Most applications for domestic violence orders are made in the District Court. However, some are made in the Circuit Court or High Court. These are often as part of other cases such as divorces or judicial separations.

While asking for help for a domestic abuse situation can be difficult, Courts Service staff know what to do. All you need to say is ‘I need to apply for a domestic violence order’. Courts Service staff are fully trained and can help guide you through the process.

For more information go to https://services.courts.ie/Family-Law/domestic-violence

You may also be asked to attend court as a witness if the person that subjected you to domestic violence is charged with a criminal offence such as Assault or Coercive Control. Click here for information on what to expect from the Courts Process.

Domestic violence support services staff can accompany you at any stage of the trial process- before, during and after court hearings. You can contact your domestic violence support services and trained staff or volunteers will organise to attend at court hearings with you. Whatever the outcome of your case supports services will remain available to you for as long as needed and in any future developments such a parole hearing or release of a perpetrator.

The Victims Charter is an important resource to help victims of crime understand the rights that are offered to them under Irish Law. The Charter also describes the Criminal Justice System so that you can understand what to expect. Click the link to learn more about the victims charter

Leaving a domestic abuse situation can be the most dangerous time for the victim so if you are in that situation, it is important you consider putting a plan in place.

Every situation is different, and you will be the best judge of what is best for you. There are services who can help you make this plan.

Details of how you can contact them can be found here. There are a number of ways you can contact them if it is difficult for you to speak on the phone during this time.

If you are planning to leave, follow these five steps:

1. Think ahead and be prepared

• Is there a relative, friend or neighbour you trust? If so, think about telling them what is going on as you may need them in an emergency. Discuss this matter with them as part of your safety plan.
• Think in advance about times when there may still be opportunities to leave during this confined time, for example when your abuser is asleep or in the shower

2. Prepare an emergency bag

• Prepare a bag for you and your children (if applicable) You may need to pack enough clothes to last a couple of days.
• Include an extra set of house and car keys, money, a list of phone numbers you may need. Try to hide this bag. Or store it with a trusted relative, friend or neighbour, if it is safe to do so.
• Remember to store and pack important personal documents concerning you and your children such as your passports, driving licence, marriage and birth certificates, PPS numbers, medical cards, address book, bank books, cheque books, credit cards, court orders and any other legal and financial documents.
• Pack any medicine you or your children might need.
• Pack some of your children’s favourite toys/or sentimental possessions

3. Make sure you can access a phone and emergency numbers

• Keep your mobile phone with you at all times. Find somewhere you can quickly and easily use a phone if you don’t have access to a mobile. This could be a public payphone, or one at a neighbour’s, friend’s or relative’s house.
• Write out a list of numbers you will need in an emergency. Include friends, relatives, An Garda Síochána, GP, your local domestic violence service, and your nearest refuge. Remember, even if you have numbers stored in your mobile you may not be able to access or use it, so copy out all numbers you might need. Keep this list with you at all times.
• Keep a small amount of money with you at all times for phone calls and/or taxi, train or bus fares etc

4. Know what you can tell your children

• If your children are old enough to understand, explain that you might have to leave in a hurry and make sure they know what to do if that happens. You could consider arranging a meeting point should you get separated from them.
• Teach your children to dial 999 or 112 if there is an emergency. Make sure they know what they will need to say: name, address and telephone number .

5. Stay as safe as you can within your home

• Be aware of your safety in every room in your home. Know how you can get to exit routes out of the house quickly and safely
• The most important thing for you to know is you are not alone, and support will always be there for you

Always remember that computers and personal devices (smartphones and tablets) record everything you do on them, including use of the internet.

Computers and personal devices track and store information about what you look at on the internet, the emails you send, and other activities. It is impossible to delete or clear all computer “footprints” so it is important to be mindful of what you search and look at on computers and devices that others may have access to.

All modern internet browsers on computers, mobile phones and tablets have an ‘incognito’ or ‘private’ setting which should be utilised when looking for material online that is considered sensitive. Incognito or private browsing means that there will be no record of the user’s online activity on their own computer while using the incognito or private mode.

For further information on how domestic violence victims can use the computers and the internet safely, go to Safe Ireland’s dedicated webpage.