Last year Domestic Violence Response (DVR) Galway recorded its highest number of new clients and its highest level of counselling support sessions in its 24-year history.
The charity’s 2021 annual report noted that in many instances, Covid-19 restrictions were used by domestic abusers to exert further control over their partners.
A total of 266 people availed of DVR’s services last year. Some 136 were contacting DVR for the first time and there was a significant increase in return service users in the latter part of the year.
In total, 51 nights of accommodation were provided in Galway from late June 2020 to December 2021, via a scheme that saw Airbnb partnering with Safe Ireland and Women’s Aid to provide free emergency accommodation to domestic violence survivors.
DVR provided 1,449 support sessions to service users last year.
In early summer 2021, Covid-19 restrictions began to lift and the charity noted the disclosures from service users were “stark and harrowing”. These disclosures mainly came from women, but some men also availed of telephone support.
According to DVR staff, women said Covid-19 restrictions were used as a tactic to inflict further control. Women said their partners enforced their isolation, imposed strict and excessive cleaning routines, and dealt out punishments for “putting the family at risk”.
A significant increase of sexual abuse disclosures was also noted by staff during this period.
The report also noted that a Women’s Aid and Safe Ireland Hardship Fund supported women to relocate and flee from domestic abuse. This fund paid for petrol costs, phone credit, new clothes and property that was destroyed by the abuser, along with the setting up of new homes and the installation of dashcam or CCTV.
Cruinniú, a local charity, donated €6000 worth of food vouchers to alleviate hardship for service users at Christmas.
Supports
Last year, DVR’s court advocacy staff travelled over 100 times to provide face-to-face supports in the court houses of Galway city, Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Tuam, Clifden and Derynea.
DVR also worked with NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights to create a proposal on establishing a Support and Referral Service within the courts for survivors of domestic violence. The charity made a presentation to court staff in relation to this, and the proposal will be further developed this year.
The report also noted developments in DVR’s services, including enhanced services for older women, Irish speakers and Travellers. Just under two per cent of last year’s service users were of Traveller ethnicity.
Literature in Polish, French and Spanish was also developed, as last year, 23 per cent of all service users were non-Irish.
Elizabeth Power, Coordinator of DVR Galway, said their staff noted an increase in the level of control and abuse. “The trauma of these experiences will live with our service users long after Covid-19 fades into memory.”
The annual report was launched on Monday at DVR’s new premises in Moycullen.
Their previous premises in Oughterard was flooded in June last year due to a burst pipe. Damage was done to promotional material, brochures and posters, and the flooding caused substantial damage to the outer office floor, electrical sockets and units, so the office was rendered uninhabitable.
DVR Galway can be contacted on 091 866740.
Women’s Aid can be contacted 24/7 on 1800 341 900.