‘Extremely alarming’ rise of domestic abuse in Tipperary

Incidents up 60% in last five years

While the significantly increasing number of domestic abuse incidents in Tipperary over the last five years is concerning, it is at least a sign that victims are coming forward to report such crime.

Last month's meeting of Tipperary Joint Policing Committee heard that the number of incidents of domestic abuse increased from 214 in 2020 to 342 so far this year. The figure has been steadily rising the Covid-19 pandemic.

Though he regarded this increase as “extremely alarming”, Detective Inspector David Finnerty welcomed the fact that more and more victims have been encouraged to reach out for help. He was reassured that people know to contact the gardaí and seek assistance in breaking the cycle of abuse.

Det Inspector Finnerty heads the Divisional Protective Services Unit for Tipperary and Clare. It consists of two detective sergeants, nine detective gardaí and three specialist victim interviewers.

In what Cathaoirleach Cllr Noel Coonan described as a “very sobering presentation”, Det Inspector Finnerty outlined some of the domestic abuse gardaí have responded to in Tipperary. Victims can go through up to 30 incidents of abuse before reaching out for help; some never seek help. Victims in an abusive relationship will try to leave on average eight times before successfully leaving.

The cycle of abuse involves four stages, beginning with tension, breakdown in communication and a victim feeling the need to placate their abuser; to verbal, emotional or physical abuse. There is then a period of reconciliation, in which the abuser apologises, plays down or tries to deny the incident actually happened, before a “honeymoon phase”, during which the incident is “forgotten” or denied.

Then the cycle begins again. It increases in frequency and severity, worsening over time.

There is an elevated risk for the victim if the offender is challenged, but Det Inspector Finnerty detailed the structured, risk-managed, response gardaí can put in place once contacted. This includes liaising with external agencies such as Tusla, Ascend and Cuan Saor.

Of the top 10 domestic abuse offenders dealt with by gardaí in Tipperary, six were charged, their bail application was objected to and they were taken into custody. Two were charged with bail conditions, while files were submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the other two cases.

‘SUFFERING IN SILENCE’

Cllr Coonan spoke of recently helping an abuse victim who was “prepared to put up with her situation” because of her children. She felt that looking for help would only make her situation worse.

Det Inspector Finnerty said this is typical of the situations local gardaí encounter. Victims are “suffering in silence and feel they've no way out”. They do believe their situation will worsen if they get the gardaí involved; this may be because they are financially dependent on their abusive partner, or their children are being used as a “coercion tool”.

But he said the gardaí can put a plan in place in place to meet the victim's direct needs and mitigate the risks. As well as taking action against the offender, they can “signpost” the additional services that are available to victims.

County Tipperary Chamber CEO Michelle Aylward said the chamber would be organising an event around domestic violence in the workplace on June 5. She said local members have observed a lot abuse incidents involving employees and employers, and they want to do something about it.

Det Inspector Finnerty welcomed this, saying victims sometimes impart information about the abuse they are suffering to their work colleagues, but that those concerned do not know what to do with this information.

Deputy Martin Browne was surprised at being told that alcohol and drugs are not causing factors in domestic abuse. Det Inspector Finnerty said that while substance abuse, along with stress and mental illness, can be factors in an abuser's life and can make an abusive situation more complicated, they are not causational.

Among other “myths” he wanted to debunk was the view that domestic violence only happens to women. Gardaí have found that one in four women become victims, while one in seven men have also been victims of some form of domestic abuse.