Domestic Abuse

The Department of Justice and Probation Board NI (PBNI) will complete an assessment of a domestic violence pilot at Londonderry Magistrates' Court by September under the updated domestic and sexual violence and abuse strategy. Since last March, judges in Derry have been allowed to refer those convic

Draft domestic abuse legislation fails to protect women in Northern Ireland, MPs have warned. The legislation introduces a statutory definition of domestic abuse to encompass economic abuse as well as controlling and manipulative behaviour.

Over 300 applications have been made to the Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme (DVADS) in Northern Ireland since its introduction one year ago. New figures from the PSNI, which operates the scheme, reveal that 326 checks have been made and 40 people, identified as being at risk, have been

New court rules required under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 have come into effect. The District Court Rules have been amended to facilitate the operation of the significant Act, which was commenced at the start of the year.

New inheritance law reforms to prevent people who kill their partners from profiting will be brought to the Oireachtas within weeks. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan confirmed that new legislation will be introduced in the Dáil to address concerns raised in respect of the deaths of Celine Ca

Ireland has officially ratified the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence this effect from today. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan announced the ratification following a special Government meeting held to mark International Women's Day 2019.

A cross-party group of MPs is calling on the UK Government to extend new domestic abuse legislation to Northern Ireland. Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, told BBC News that women in Northern Ireland are being denied "basic rights".

The Victim Support at Court (V-SAC) charity has seen a 37 per cent increase in demand for its court accompaniment services in the last two years, the Irish Examiner reports. The latest figures from the charity reveal that it provided accompaniment services to 1,365 complainants, witnesses and family

A Scottish council is the first in Europe to give its employees who have suffered domestic abuse "safe leave". South Ayrshire Council's policy will give employees up to 10 days' paid leave to allow them to seek help and support.

The Government's strategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is set to be reviewed to examine its success. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan today announced the mid-term review of the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021, which was launch

The commencement of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 brings significant changes to Ireland’s law on domestic violence, including the introduction of offences under the heading of coercive control, the court’s express consideration of the victim’s psychological and emotional welfare,

Michelle Cronin, solicitor at Comyn Kelleher Tobin (CKT), sets out the significance of the newly-commenced Domestic Violence Act 2018. The Domestic Violence Act 2018 came into effect on 1st January 2019 and has been welcomed by those who assist victims of domestic violence.