Women in Dublin area being lured into abusive relationships on promise of drugs

Women in Dublin 10 are being groomed and lured into abusive relationships on the promise of drugs, a shocking new report has found.

The report, published by domestic violence support service Saoirse, has found that young women in Ballyfermot and Cherry Orchard are “disproportionately affected” by “elevated” levels of domestic violence. The report followed up on HSE research that found domestic violence was a key factor in an increase of suicides among young women in the area in 2018 and 2019.

The report found some victims suffered severe brain injuries, and injuries that led to them developing epilepsy. It also says that up to 70 per cent of criminal damage and public order incidents in Dublin 10 are related to domestic violence.

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The report also found that an intergenerational transmission of violence, influenced by cultural and socio-economic factors in the area, is a significant contributor to the recurrence of abuse within families and has a detrimental effect on children growing up in those family units. There is also a “notable shortage” of refuge spaces in the area, and existing support services are “overwhelmed”, leading to burnout among staff.

The report made a number of recommendations, including:

• An increase in the number of refuge space and housing supports in the area

• Increased funding and support for domestic violence services in the area

• Comprehensive education and awareness programmes focused on prevention and early intervention

• Ongoing, specialized training for professionals across all sectors that interact with domestic violence and abuse cases

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