CAMPAIGNERS AND DOMESTIC violence organisations have said that, under the current plans, the length of time an abuser’s name will be listed on the new domestic violence register is not long enough. 

The Government is currently progressing plans to set up an online and publicly available domestic violence register, which will include information on the identities of those who have been found guilty of serious intimate partner abuse by the courts.

The legislation proposed was inspired by the campaign to introduce ‘Jennie’s Law’ after the murder of 24-year-old Jennifer Poole by her ex-partner Gavin Murphy in 2021.

Jennie was unaware that Murphy had served time in prison for assaulting another woman in the past. Her family have campaigned since her murder for a domestic violence register to be brought forward.

The Oireachtas Justice Committee will discuss the Bill this afternoon as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process. 

In statements seen by The Journal, Jennifer Poole’s brother, Jason Poole, and representatives from Women’s Aid, will tell TDs and Senators that the current proposal for an individual’s name to be removed from the register after three years is too short. 

As it stands, a person listed on the register can make an application to have their name removed three years after being convicted.

Women’s Aid will ask for this to be extended, noting that some offenders will have their names removed while they are still in prison serving their sentences or just after release, before starting new relationships.

Women’s Aid has also suggested that the register should “clearly state its own limitations and that absence from the register does not mean someone has never perpetrated domestic violence”.

As such, it has suggested that the register must provide signposting to specialist support services for all enquiries – regardless of whether their partner is on the
register or not.

The online domestic violence register will be managed by the courts.

It will include information on the identities of those who have been found guilty of serious intimate partner abuse by the courts.

The names of convicted abusers will only appear on the register after victims have given their consent. 

Women’s Aid has pointed out that this may leave victims vulnerable, particularly if coercive control exists in the relationship with an ex-partner. 

“Abuse doesn’t always end with sentencing. Many perpetrators continue exerting influence through family courts, parenting arrangements, or indirect intimidation and pressure via peers, family and other means post-conviction.

“Leaving the decision to victims may mean they carry responsibility for public disclosure, which could be harmful if the abuser retaliates or uses other means to discourage them,” Women’s Aid says in its statement.

The organisation has also suggested a number of additional offences that would trigger a person’s inclusion on the register. 

These include harassment and stalking offences from the 1997 Act and the harmful communications offences from the 2020 Act.

It has also recommended that breaches of domestic violence orders under the 2018 Act be included, especially where someone has multiple convictions.