Domestic abuse cases soar during lockdown as Women’s Aid deal with potential homicides

Domestic abuse cases have soared in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon area since lockdown with a shocking 3,359 incidents recorded.
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According to these PSNI statistics for the year from October 1, 2019 to September 30 this year, the ABC area has the second highest level of domestic abuse crime in NI.

Over the past year there has been an increase of 124 incidents with Women’s Aid Armagh Down, which has an office in Portadown, saying referrals soared when lockdown eased.

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CEO of Women’s Aid Armagh Down, Eileen Murphy said: “Behind every statistic there is severe trauma, traumatised women and children whose lives have been torn apart by domestic abuse.

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Drop Folder WG News. Pic Kevin Allen. Domestic Abuse.......... Pic posed by model 075109.

“Domestic abuse is not just one incident. It is a life lived 24 hours a day with it. We see it in the paper maybe once or twice and then it is gone but for those people this is an ongoing daily experience.”

Eileen revealed that during the first lockdown they noticed a significant drop in referrals but, right through lockdown, the work of Women’s Aid never ceased.

“Come September this year the level of referrals ‘jolted off the Richter Scale. That’s when women could get back out again and get some safe place to contact us.

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“If you are living with someone you are fearful of, or who controls you to the level that we see in women’s lives every day at any turn, there is the threat of significant harm,” said Eileen.

She said that historically the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon area had higher crime rates regarding domestic abuse.

The ABC area has the second highest level of domestic abuse crime in the whole of NI. “Of the total number of domestic violence crimes in NI, 20 percent is happening in the ABC area. “That is high,” said Eileen.

Eileen revealed there is always a waiting list. She gave an example of just one day this week - Monday, December 1.

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“There were 134 women and seven children being supported through the Portadown office of Women’s Aid. On the same day we had 73 waiting to be seen and 42 children on the waiting list. That is just in one day.

“It is a small office. We only have six support staff. I could double the staff in the Portadown office and I am not sure if we could meet all the demand,” said Eileen.

However, she emphasised that the door is always open. “We are here. We have a quick contact triage system so we can get to women as soon as possible. We do prioritise on the level of risk. So if someone needs emergency crisis support we get to them,” said Eileen, adding that this has a knock-on effect on helping those women to long term recovery from the trauma of domestic abuse.

“Our resources are so scarce we spend the vast majority of our time dealing with high risk cases - and when I am talking about high risk, I am talking about potential domestic homicide.

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“I was talking to one of my support workers this morning and she spoke about a woman who was strangled almost to death. He lifted her off her feet and strangled her and this is the father of her children.

“It is not just going to see women with black eyes and busted lips. A lot of the physical stuff never gets seen and it is the emotional that scars people for life.”

Eileen praised the people of the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon area, who, she said, had been really good with donations during lockdown.

“When we put out an appeal, the community response has been fantastic but it is a continuous need,” said Eileen, adding that they haven’t been able to do their normal fund raising.

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“This year in Women’s Aid in the Armagh and Down area we have worked with 603 families. That included 829 children we provided services to. At the refuge, in Newry, we catered for 42 women and 28 children. We had pregnant women living in our refuges. We have pregnant women living with domestic abuse,” said Eileen.

“Women’s Aid are never going to be able to eradicate domestic violence on our own. This is a societal issue, a community issue. My heart is in trying to encourage the community to get behind us with an attitude that doesn’t tolerate domestic violence and abuse,” said Eileen.

She warned against approaching a woman who someone suspects of being abused but urged people to call the police if they are aware of any abuse.

She urged women who are victims to call 999 and if they are unable to speak to press 55 and the operator will know it is a genuine emergency.

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In the past 12 months, Women’s Aid NI supported over 6,000 women and their children, and 11 babies were born whilst their mum was living in a Women’s Aid NI refuge.

Northern Ireland is currently the only region in the UK without specific domestic abuse legislation. However, as the campaign launches NI’s Domestic Abuse Bill is moving through the Assembly.

Women’s Aid NI CEO Sarah Mason said: “The Unlock Your Lockdown campaign will let victims of domestic abuse know that they are not alone, and that support is available to help them break away from the cycle of abuse they are enduring.

“We are fully aware that the lockdown period had a direct negative impact on many women and children who experience domestic violence and abuse.

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“Throughout the lockdown period Women’s Aid NI continued to provide support to families in their refuges and extended outreach support via multi-communication formats.

“As lockdown restrictions change for society, our Unlock your Lockdown campaign will send a strong reminder that many victims remain in lockdown living in a cycle of domestic violence and abuse.

“The campaign will highlight the critical need for domestic abuse legislation in Northern Ireland. We welcome the Domestic Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill and Women’s Aid NI has played a key role in shaping this legislation for women and children affected by domestic violence.

“Women’s Aid NI has been campaigning for legislation in relation to coercive and controlling behaviour for many years to bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK and Ireland.”

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Leading NI actresses Bronagh Waugh and Bronagh Gallagher will be supporting the campaign that includes radio, digital, pharmacy and adshel advertising. They have lent their voices to tell the story of those women who have been supported by Women’s Aid Northern Ireland to provide hope to those impacted by domestic abuse and violence.

Derry~Londonderry born Bronagh Gallagher said: “I am privileged to be part of the Unlock your Lockdown campaign for Women’s Aid NI. The work they do is so incredibly important, and it is vital that we all support it, especially as we head into the festive period.

“I hope that in some way this campaign can reach those who need it most, wherever and whoever they are. I hope I can help encourage women and children experiencing abuse to take the first step in building a new life and a new normal.”

Sarah Mason added: “We are extremely grateful to the team at communications consultancy Jago who have developed this campaign as part of their pro-bono Go Project and their partner Krow advertising in Belfast who developed the creative. We have dug deep, and funding has been secured from Comic Relief to make this very important campaign possible.”

Support and information are available at:

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www.womensaidni.org including information on the local centres covering all of Northern Ireland

To contact police, call the non-emergency ‘101’ number or call ‘999’ in an emergency. There is a Silent Solutions Service which enables a 999 caller who is too scared to make a noise, or speak, to press 55 when prompted.

A 24-hour Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline is available to anyone who has concerns about domestic or sexual abuse, now or in the past, on 0808 802 1414.

Those wishing to make a donation to support the work of Women’s Aid Northern Ireland should visit: justgiving.com/campaign/Unlockthelockdown

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