Men in Ireland who have killed their partners serve less time in jail

Ahead of the global 16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, Women's Aid Ireland launched a report into the deaths of women in Ireland.

In 2017, eight women have died violently, with six of those women killed in their own homes. Since the Femicide Monitoring Project began in 1996, an average of ten women have died in a violent manner every year and 16 children have been murdered with their mothers. 88 percent of women who have been murdered in Ireland were killed by someone known to them, with the majority being current or former partners. Margaret Martin, Director of Women's Aid says that these figures are not an anomaly, but reflective of what women are experiencing across Ireland.

"Last year there were 646 threats to kill women, children and family members disclosed to Women’s Aid.  There were 522 additional disclosures of assaults with weapons, threats with weapons and being strangled and smothered.  We also recorded 352 disclosures of stalking and 195 reports of assault during pregnancy".

Women's Aid is keen to dispel the myth that women are most at risk from strangers.

"The Women’s Aid Femicide Watch challenges and dispels the belief that women are at high risk from ‘stranger danger’. 88 percent of women are killed by men known to them.  The men who kill women are their boyfriends, their husbands and partners.  In many cases they are sons, neighbours and friends.  Domestic violence kills women.  It kills children too.  In 2016 we heard over 20,000 disclosures of abuse of women and children".

Ms Martin said that emotional abuse, controlling behaviours and a history of physical violence are some of the warning signs.

"In 2016, Women’s Aid heard 11,000 disclosures of emotional abuse and controlling behaviour and we know that leaving or trying to leave an abusive relationship is often a very dangerous time for a woman. Risk factors for intimate partner femicide can include a history of physical violence and also a pattern of emotional abuse and controlling behaviour.  Many of the risk factors in domestic violence homicide cases overlap with behaviours and tactics used by perpetrators of domestic violence including physical abuse, threats to kill, abuse during pregnancy, jealousy, stalking and surveillance".

Also of concern is the lower sentences men receive for murdering partners or ex-partners. The Femicide Monitoring Project found that men who were convicted of the manslaughter of their partner or ex-partner were likely to serve almost 3 years less than other male perpetrators. Women's Aid recommends that a history of psychological, sexual or physical abuse from a current or former partner should be considered an, "aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing". In 2016 Women’s Aid received 16,946 disclosures of domestic abuse of women. 3,823 disclosures pertained to child abuse, including physical and sexual abuse. Ms Martin says Women's Aid are alarmed by the number of children who are being abused or exposed to domestic abuse.

"Children have been told they will be killed alongside their mothers.  At times, the perpetrator of the abuse has deliberately targeted the children as a way to hurt both them and their mother".

Since 1996 there have been 22 cases of murder-suicide, where the killer murdered a woman and then himself during the incident or shortly afterwards.  In 21 of these cases, the killer was a partner or ex of the victim. Ms Martin urges anyone with concerns to contact Women's Aid.

"Women’s Aid stands in solidarity with families, friends and communities of women murdered and with the many women currently living with abuse. We remember those women murdered but where no perpetrator has been charged and the other cases yet to come to trial. Our thoughts are with their families who are waiting for justice.  And we will continue this work to bring to light, what goes on behind closed doors in Ireland".

If you have been affected by this story or have concerns please contact the Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 or www.womensaid.ie