Cork sees almost a 90% rise in protection order applications for Clonakilty. The granted orders decreased despite 15% overall increase in applications.
Court numbers show a big jump in applications during 2023. A total of 2,338 people applied for these orders. This number is 15% higher than in 2022.
However, the number of orders granted dropped by 1%. Clonakilty saw the biggest rise in applications. They went from 48 to 91, almost doubling. Cork city had the most applications, 1,420 in 2023.
Mallow had 271 applications, followed by Midleton with 187. Fermoy had 104 and Bandon had 81. Skibbereen and Bantry each received 30 applications each. It’s important to focus on trends in specific towns.
Application numbers fell only in three Cork towns like Youghal. Numbers nearly halved in Youghal from 77 to 44. Skibbereen and Fermoy saw minor decreases too.
From January to September last year, it was reported that 1,796 orders were sought. Courts granted 960 of these domestic violence orders.
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú is an MEP looking at these stats. She is worried about the large increases in victims seeking protection across different Cork towns.
She says many victims are facing terrible situations. A victim-centered approach is needed, she adds. As a barrister, she helped many victims long ago. They were often afraid to attend court.
She often talked with women in the courthouse lobby. Sometimes, abusers were present nearby. Courthouses must become far safer for victims!
The MEP will ask to meet with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan. They will talk about these troubling new figures from Cork.
