Around 400 professionals from Tusla, An Garda Siochana, PSNI and other organisations gathered for a cross-border conference on coercive control today in Letterkenny.
The event focussed on the impact and understanding of coercive control, which was made a legal offence at the beginning of this year.
Organisation representatives at the Cross border Conference on Coercive Control in Letterkenny an event attended by 375 professionals from Tusla, An Garda Siochana, PSNI and other statutory and community partner organisations from left are Anne Timoney Meehan, CYPSC, Clive Beatty, Superintendant and District Commander PSNI, Donna Campbell, Garda, Aisling Gillen, Tusla and Donna McGee, MACE. Photo Clive Wasson
Coercive control is a persistent pattern of controlling, coercive and threatening behaviour including all or some forms of domestic abuse.
The Domestic Violence Act 2018 came into effect in Ireland on 1st January 2019, improving the protections available to victims of domestic violence under both the civil and criminal law.
Under the Act a new law was introduced making coercion of a spouse, civil partner or intimate partner a criminal offence. Those convicted of coercion can face up to five years in jail but the main protections available under the Act are safety and barring orders.
Keynote speakers at the conference talked about the need for partnership between statutory and community organisations to support victims of coercion.
Speaking about the event, Deirdre McDaid, MACE Project said “Events like this allow us to work together with our partners from both sides of the border to share learning and best practise when it comes to preventing, identifying and responding to domestic violence, and coercive control in particular. Coercive control is a very important and complex issue, and we need to work in partnership to respond appropriately and ensure better outcomes for families and children.”
MACE representatives at the Cross border Conference on Coercive Control in Letterkenny an event attended by 375 professionals from Tusla, An Garda Siochana, PSNI and other statutory and community partner organisations. Are seated Fergal Landy, Shauna Hawes, Georgina O’Brien and Aisling Gillen. Back from left are Deirdre McDaid, Brenda Maxwell, Gavin McGee and Donna McGee. Photo Clive Wasson
Gerry Hone, Area Manager, Tusla, said: “Today’s conference is an opportunity to highlight the impact of coercive control not only on adult victims but also on children, who are often the hidden victims. Tusla staff regularly intervene in such situations where children can suffer serious emotional abuse as they live in an environment of constant fear and insecurity. The conference helped bring some focus to their plight. We will continue to work with our partners in this area to ensure that children and families are supported.”
Dr. Marie Hainsworth, manager of Donegal Domestic Violence Service said: “It is very important to remember that all victims can be impacted differently by Coercive Control. There is no such thing as a typical victim. Through our service we have seen that a parent and their children may all interpret this in different ways, and therefore we need to be able to tailor our responses to each individual’s needs. A multi-agency response is vital in achieving this.”
Garda and PSNI members at the Cross border Conference on Coercive Control. Seated from left are Laura Sweeney, Detective Sergeant, Clive Beatty, Superintendant and Distric Commander PSNI, Donna Campbell and Inspector Goretti Sheridan. Back from left Paul Forestal, Eugene McGovern, Seamus McGonigle, Eunan Walsh, Ciara McNulty, Emmett Brady, Patrick McGlynn and David Kelly. Photo Clive Wasson
Speakers at the Cross border Conference on Coercive Control in Letterkenny: Seated from left are Laura Sweeney, Garda Detective Sergeant, Marie Browne, Foyle Womens Aid, Lorraine Thompson, Donegal Youth Service and Deirdre McDaid, MACE Project. Back from left are Shauna Hawes, MACE Project, Janique Burden, Tusla, Clive Beatty, Superintendent and District Commander PSNI, Luke Hart, Survivor, Fergal Landy, Regional Implementation Manager, Tusla, Michelle Alonso, Fermanagh Womens Aid and Maire Hainsworth, Donegal Domestic Violence Service and Donna McGee MaCE. Photo Clive Wasson
The event was MC’ed by Fergal Landy, Regional Implementation Manager for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support, Tusla.
Key note speakers at the conference included:
- Michelle Alonso, Fermanagh Women’s Aid
- Superintendent Clive Beatty District Commander-PSNI
- Marie Brown, Director, Foyle Women’s Aid
- Detective Sergeant Laura Sweeney, An Garda Síochána
- Dr Marie Hainsworth, Manager, Donegal Domestic Violence Service
- Janique Burden, Principal Social Worker, Tusla
The conference was a collaborative initiative between the CAWT cross border MACE Project, which is funded by the EU’s INTERREG VA programme, and Donegal Children and Young People’s Services Committee and was supported by Donegal Domestic Violence Service, An Garda Siochana and Tusla.
For more information on coercive control, visit safeireland.ie to find the service closest to you or call the National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900.
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