Domestic abuse: Small increase in incidents reported last year

Eileen Murphy says that children often come with the women they help

Latest police figures show a small increase in the number of domestic abuse incidents in Northern Ireland.

There were 33,071 domestic abuse incidents in 2023, an increase of 144 (0.4%) on the previous year.

However, the figures show a decrease of 7% in domestic abuse crimes.

On Wednesday, hundreds attended the 40th anniversary conference of the Armagh/Down Branch of Women's Aid in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry.

The organisation said more than 1,500 women in the two counties are using its support services, with more than 350 others trying to secure services.

'It wasn't my secret anymore'

Among the speakers were Sabina Higgins, the wife of Irish President Michael D Higgins, and Dragons Den star Norah Casey, who spoke of her experiences with domestic abuse.

"After the violence - I had broken ribs and broken bones in my face and a lot of bruises," she said.

"Financially I had nothing. I was prepared to be homeless.

"When it comes towards the end and you are trying to leave it is the most terrifying time.

Irish Dragons Den star Norah Casey shared her own experience of domestic abuse

"What happened the day when my parents witnessed what he did. I saw him through their eyes and then suddenly I was thinking 'what would my father think?' - this hero of a man of his hitting me the way he did.

"My mother went and remonstrated with him and suddenly it wasn't my secret anymore. It was only a matter of five days from her knowing about it to me having the courage to leave after multiple failed attempts."

Presiding District Judge Steven Keown, who discussed recent changes to the law, and US educator Dr Jackson Katz were also present.

Despite the rise in domestic abuse incidents, the number of domestic abuse crimes in Northern Ireland fell to 20,691 in 2023, a decrease of 1,590 on the previous 12 months.

The report published by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) explains that not all incidents rise to the severity where a crime would be recorded.

The figures show a decrease in stalking and harassment, and sexual offences classified as domestic abuse, but a rise in theft, criminal damage and breaches of non-molestation orders.

'Dealing with risk and saving lives'

Women's Aid Armagh Down chief executive Eileen Murphy said the organisation had provided support services to more than 1,300 women and 1,515 children and young people

"With most women come children," she said.

She added that the vast majority of women the organisation worked with were "high-risk victims".

Ms Murphy said the demand on their service meant they had to prioritise on risk.

"So those with very high needs who desperately need services will not get support when they ask for it. We are dealing with risk and saving lives," she explained.

The conference heard from a number of speakers

In February 2022 new domestic abuse laws came into force in Northern Ireland making coercive control a specific offence.

According to Ms Murphy, this change will take time to bed in.

"Just saying 'coercive control,' doesn't mean people will understand that," she said.

"It is so insidious that it is really difficult to understand it and recognise it for what it is."

Coercion can focus on simply "the shape of someone's face, the tone of their voice, the way they turn their body", for example.

"That tells the victim in a very threatening but subtle way that only she or the children recognise that they are in danger. But victims haven't done anything. [The abuser] has a choice and he chooses to do what he does.

"I'm really hopeful that when people - police and the courts fully understand what it means that they will see the danger and start calling it out and holding people to account."