CALL FOR MONAGHAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REFUGE TO BE FAST-TRACKED AS WORRYING STATISTICS EMERGE

Sinn Féin local public representative and Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Co Council Cathy Bennett this week called for the process to deliver a domestic violence refuge to serve the county to be expedited. Councillor Bennett’s appeal came at Monday’s meeting of the Monaghan Municipal District. Separately, Aontú local public representative Sarah O’Reilly voiced alarm at the release of statistics which indicated that the Cavan/Monaghan area was showing the highest increase in domestic abuse cases in the country outside of Dublin.

The Cavan Co Councillor, who will run for Aontú in Cavan/Monaghan in the next General Election, said it was “deeply concerning” that domestic abuse incidents were rapidly increasing in the constituency. “3,077 cases were reported last year, and this is absolutely shocking,” she stated. “This is just marginally down on the previous year with 3,264 being reported, the highest in ten years. Cavan and Monaghan are two of nine counties without a refuge for victims of domestic violence and that is another damming statistic.”

The issue was raised at Monday’s Municipal District meeting by Councillor Bennett in response to correspondence received in relation to the recent case of Army Private Cathal Crotty, who was convicted of an unprovoked attack on a woman on the street in Limerick in 2022 which left her with serious injuries. The suspended sentence imposed on him drew widespread criticism and the Private was subsequently dismissed from the Defence Forces.

“We need a refuge centre in Monaghan,” Councillor Bennett stated. “It still hasn’t happened after all the talk and promises. “That is an absolute disgrace and it is something that needs to change and it’s something we need to challenge the Government over. The legislation in this area needs to be changed. “We need two separate houses, one in Cavan and one in Monaghan, where domestic violence victims can go to. It is more than a necessity at this stage and it is something that has not …