The term ‘domestic violence’ goes beyond actual physical violence. It can also involve the destruction of property; isolation from friends, family and other potential sources of support; threats to others including children; stalking; and control over access to money, personal items, food, transportation and the telephone.

It occurs in all social classes, all ethnic groups and among people of every educational background.

It can be described as the use of physical or emotional force or the threat of physical force, including sexual violence in close adult relationships.

Domestic violence profoundly affects the physical, emotional, social and financial wellbeing of individuals and families. It is perpetrated against a person by that person’s spouse, intimate partner, ex-partner, other family members and/or another person at home. Domestic violence is pattern of repeated abusive and controlling behaviours that occurs within an intimate or family relationship and may even continue after the relationship has ended.

The Domestic Violence Act 2018, which became law on 1 January 2019, changed how our Justice system deals with domestic violence. It recognises in law the impact that emotional abuse can have on those it is inflicted upon by the creation of the offence of Coercive Control.

Coercive Control is defined in Section 39 of the 2018 Act. It provides that a person commits an offence where he or she knowingly and persistently engages in behaviour that:

1. is controlling or coercive
2. has a serious effect on a relevant person
   and
3. a reasonable person would consider likely to have a serious effect on a relevant person.

The Act also says that the requirement of a ‘serious effect’ means behaviour that causes the person to

1. Fear that violence will be used against him or her
   or
2. Serious alarm or distress that has a substantial adverse impact on his or her usual day-to-day activities.

To learn more about Coercive Control go to the Safe Ireland, Men’s Aid or Tusla website.

Physical violence/abuse is any intentional and unwanted contact with you or something close to your body. It can include:

Emotional or psychological abuse can include:

Sexual violence is any form of sexual coercion (physical or emotional) or sexual degradation against an individual in the family or domestic unit. It can include:

To learn more about sexual violence more generally you can find information on the ‘No Excuses’ campaign website.

If you are a victim of sexual violence, the Victims Charter website has a dedicated section that provides information on topics such as: what support services are available to you; how to make a report to An Garda Síochána; what to expect from the Courts process. You can find that information and more at Victims Charter website.

Domestic Abusers often use Intimate Image Abuse or the threat of Intimate Image Abuse as part of a pattern of controlling and abusive behaviour. In this case, the perpetrator deliberately tries to create fear, and/or shame in the victim. They may use it as a way to humiliate, intimidate, control, coerce the victim after a break up.

The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 came into force in February 2021. It has provision for two new offences dealing with the non-consensual distribution of intimate images.

The first offence deals with the distribution or publication, or threat to distribute or publish intimate images without consent, and with the intent to cause harm to the victim. It carries a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine and/or seven years’ imprisonment.

The second offence deals with the taking, distribution or publication of intimate images without consent even if there is no specific intent to cause harm to the victim. It carries a maximum penalty of €5,000 fine and/or 12 months’ imprisonment.

To learn more about Intimate Image Abuse, including information on how to report the incident and get an image taken down, visit Hotline.ie.

Financial abuse is a form of domestic violence in which the abuser uses money as a means of controlling their partner. It can include:

Examples of social abuse can include:

Online or digital abuse is the use of technologies such as mobile phone texting and social networking to bully, pursue, cyber-stalk or intimidate a partner. In most cases, this type of abuse is emotional and/or verbal perpetuated online.

Examples include: