Figures show more Tipperary domestic abuse victims are seeking Garda help

Gardaí were alerted to 342 domestic abuse incidents in county Tipperary in the first three months of this year, which is a 60% rise on the equivalent period in 2020 when the county's first Garda unit dedicated to investigating these crimes was set up.

But while Detective Inspector David Finnerty of the Tipperary/Clare Garda Division's Protective Services Unit admits this statistic is “extremely alarming”, he also views it from a positive perspective as an indication that victims of domestic violence and abuse are “no longer suffering in silence” and are now more willing to report incidents to the gardaí.

“While I don’t like seeing the figure increasing, it means that more victims are reaching out to us and that increased reporting of domestic violence allows us to break the cycle of abuse,” he told Tipperary Joint Policing Committee’s final meeting.

Det. Insp Finnerty was speaking during a presentation he gave called Breaking the Cycle of Abuse at the JPC meeting at Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District offices just a stone's throw from the Protective Services Unit’s base at Tipperary Government Buildings on Rosanna Road.

The figures he presented to the JPC showed the 342 domestic abuse incidents reported to gardaí in county Tipperary between January 1 and the end of March was nine more than reported in the first quarter of last year and 117 more incidents than the 214 reported to Tipperary gardaí in the same three months in 2020.

The Protective Services Unit that investigates domestic abuse and coercive control crimes as well as sexual and child abuse offences was set up in March, 2020 and includes two detective sergeants, nine detective gardaí and three specialist victim interviewers.

Det. Insp. Finnerty told JPC members that research shows a domestic abuse victim endures about 30 incidents of domestic abuse before they reach out to someone for help. He pointed out that nationally An Garda Síochána deals with a domestic abuse call every 10 minutes and in excess of 1,000 domestic abuse calls weekly.

“For us in An Garda Síochána that is where we have a huge role in breaking that cycle of abuse. When that victim reaches out to us that we are able to provide them with the assistance they need and we are in a position to sign post it to external partners. “

He pointed out that domestic abuse victims will try to leave an abusive relationship on average eight times before successfully leaving.

“Factors that make it hard to leave include financial dependence, using children as a coercion tool and making threats of violence.”

He described the cycle of abuse. The first phase is when tensions build, there is a break down of communications, the victim becomes fearful and feels the need to placate the abuser. They are walking on eggshells around the abuser.

It’s followed by the incident whether it's emotional or physical abuse, anger, blaming, arguing, threats or intimidation.

Afterwards, the abuser apologises, says they are “so, so sorry and it's never going to happen again”.

They give excuses and can blame the victim for what happened. They can deny the abuse occurred and downplay that it wasn’t as bad as the victim claims.

In the fourth, so called “honeymoon” phase, the situation returns to calm, the incident is “forgotten” the abuser maintains they have “seen the error of their ways” and no abuse is taking place.

However, Det. Insp. Finnerty said in their experience this cycle of abuse continues.

“Once the abuse has begun, not only does it continue, it gets worse over time. More incidents occur and the gravity of the incidents increases.”

He explained the reconciliation and calm phase reduces over time and the victim and children become more vulnerable over time as the abuse.

One of An Garda Síochána’s key roles is to break that cycle of abuse, he explained.

From the second gardaí meet a victim of domestic abuse they are assessing the risk to the injured party and dependents.

They gather evidence of whether there has been previous incidents. If there is cause for arrest, they are pro-active in doing that.

If there is sufficient evidence, a report is completed and recorded on their system for review. The risks to the injured party and dependents are identified.

He said cases of high risk domestic abuse victims are reviewed every 24 hours. If there are previous incidents associated with the case, gardaí identify further actions to take.

Victims receive an average of three initial call backs from gardaí and more if they are warranted. Gardaí can meet them again to get further details and to “sign post” their case to agencies like Tusla, Cuan Saor Women’s Refuge in Clonmel and Ascend in north Tipperary.

He told the JPC meeting he did analysis of their top 10 offenders last year and in all cases when they had sufficient evidence they were charged.

In six of the cases, the garda objections to bail resulted in them being refused bail and placed in custody when brought before a court.

Two others that were charged and brought to court were granted bail because gardaí hadn’t sufficient evidence to hold them in custody. Files were submitted to the DPP in relation to the two other cases.

At the end of the presentation, JPC Chairman Cllr Noel Coonan asked for advice for public representatives to help constituents suffering domestic abuse, who come to them. He cited the case of one woman, who feared her situation would only get worse if she left her husband.

Insp. Finnerty advised encouraging such constituents to reach out to the gardaí and to engage with Ascend Domestic Abuse Service in north Tipperary or Cuan Saor women's refuge at Parnell Street in Clonmel.

Cuan Saor can be contacted via its 24-hour helpline is 1800576757.

Domestic Abuse Myths Debunked

Detective Insp. David Finnerty stressed that domestic abuse is prevalent in all social classes and while one in four women have been victims of some form of domestic abuse, so too have one in seven men.

He said there is a myth that drugs, alcohol, stress and mental illness are causes of domestic abuse. But while these can be factors and certainly make an abusive situation more complicated they do not cause domestic abuse.

He said it’s also widely believed that abusers are just out of control and need anger management.

He clarified that abusers use many deliberate tactics to maintain power and control relationships.

Sometimes these tactics include physical violence and aggression but there are many other ways that control is established.

While physical abuse is one way of maintaining power and control it does not occur in every situation and can include emotional, financial, sex, isolation, threats and intimidation.

Det. Insp. Finnerty said people also believe that if a victim doesn’t leave an abusive relationship that it mustn't be that bad.

He stressed leaving such a relationship is “extremely difficult”.