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