Republican News · Thursday 7 November 2002

Government delay on barring orders could cost lives

The government's lack of urgency in tackling the issue of interim barring orders following a recent Supreme Court decision ruling them unconstitutional is putting women's lives in danger, says Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Equality, and Human Rights, Aengus ó Snodaigh TD. He expressed disbelief that it took almost a whole month for the Department of Justice to receive the Supreme Court Judgment on Interim Baring Orders.

This follows a reply to a question on Tuesday in which Bertie Ahern admitted that the full judgement in the case of Keating v Crowley had only just been received by the department.

"We all know there is an urgent need for changes to the legislation regarding interim barring orders - to make them Constitutional and to allow the resumption of adequate interim protection of people facing violence in the home," said the Dublin TD. "I have been raising this issue in the Dáil weekly since the Supreme Court judgment. My colleague Seán Crowe has raised this matter separately with the Minister for Justice. Up to yesterday we had been assured that this matter was receiving 'urgent attention'. However, when I raised it again yesterday, the Taoiseach was more equivocal.

"I asked him when we could expect the amending legislation, because I was attending the launch of the Dublin 12 Domestic Violence Helpline Referral Service, and I wanted to bring them good news if possible. The Taoiseach replied that in fact the full judgment had only just been received - almost a month later. He further said that while amending the legislation 'may be required' that the Government would wait to make that decision until they get additional legal advice.

"This is just not good enough. The current limbo situation leaves many women at risk of abuse or even death at the hands of their partners. We need a solution immediately. We needed it a month ago. I have been getting panicked calls at my advice clinic every since the judgment. What does the Taoiseach say to the women at risk who now cannot get an interim barring order? What does he say to those whose abusive partners have had their interim barring orders overturned and have returned to terrorise them in their homes, or threatened to do so? These are the people this government must answer to. I only hope that no fatalities result from the government's failure to deal with this urgently."