At a recent event, At The Margins, Three Priority Areas Through a Human Rights Lens hosted by the Bar of Ireland, Mercy Law Resource Centre‘s Solicitor, Kate Heffernan, spoke about the significant barriers victim-survivors of domestic violence continue to face in accessing safe accommodation. Chaired by Hon. Ms. Justice Sara Phelan, Kate Heffernan, Tara O’Leary and Hilary Hogan spoke on a panel about Housing and Homelessness in Focus: Rights, Challenges and Solutions.
Despite Ireland’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention, issues with coordination between State actors persist, particularly at the point when a victim-survivor is ready to move on from refuge, yet faces homelessness.
Key issues highlighted by Kate include:
🔸 Victims being denied emergency accommodation or homeless assessments by local authorities, even when they cannot return home due to fear of violence.
🔸 Local authorities citing a lack of responsibility for providing supports to victims of domestic violence — despite Department of Housing guidance to the contrary.
🔸 The misapplication of “local connection” criteria, not supported by the Housing Act 1988.
🔸 The absence of a clear legal mechanism to remove a perpetrator’s name from a joint social housing tenancy.
🔸 Government circulars and local policies that explicitly exclude domestic violence from local authority action under anti-social behaviour legislation.
These issues illustrate the need for a more integrated and consistent State response.
Thanks to The Bar of Ireland for hosting a great day which also comprised two further panel sessions 🔻
🔸 Deprivation of Liberty | Developments in the law on imprisonment and involuntary admission to hospital
🔸 Violence against Women | Contemporary issues in tackling gender-based violence
Also pictured MLRC Solicitor Team Freda Grealy Kate Heffernan Adam Boyle Erika Hayes
