Tougher sentences for domestic violence welcome step towards zero tolerance - Chambers

TOUGHER sentences introduced from today for domestic violence cases are a welcome step towards the zero tolerance approach required to tackle violence against women in Ireland, says Mayo Fianna Fáil Senator and leader of Seanad Éireann, Lisa Chambers.

From today, the Criminal Justice Miscellaneous Provisions Act increases the maximum sentence for assault causing harm in domestic violence cases to 10 years. It also creates a new standalone offence of stalking, with a maximum sentence of up to 10 years, and widens the scope of the existing harassment offence to include any conduct that seriously interferes with a person's peace and privacy, or causes alarm, distress or harm.

In cases of non-fatal strangulation or suffocation causing serious harm, there is also now a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment.

Said Senator Chambers: “These new laws are a hugely important step towards the zero-tolerance approach we need to tackle the epidemic that is violence against women in Ireland. They are long overdue and will send a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated.”

She added: “I am proud of the work I and my party colleagues have done in listening to and working with victims and victim advocacy groups to prioritise domestic, gender and sexual based violence in the legislative agenda.

“I will continue to prioritise tackling the scourge on our society that is domestic violence and campaign for the whole of society response, one that is not just based on criminal justice, that is required to ensure it is tackled once and for all.”