- Home
- Research Centres, Institutes and Projects
- Family Law Resources during COVID-19
- Domestic Violence Legal Supports
Domestic Violence Legal Supports
Access to Court Remedies & Support Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic
With the recent restrictions on movement and increase in people self-isolating and working from home, there may be an increased risk of domestic abuse and coercive control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are in IMMEDIATE danger, please contact the Gardaí on 999 or 112.
If you need to leave your home in order to remain safe, this is allowed under the current restrictions. The 5km limit does not apply.
Rape Crisis Centres are open and supporting survivors through the COVID-19 crisis, find your local centre on the Rape Crisis Help website. All domestic violence specialist support services are open across Ireland. www.safeireland.ie is being regularly updated with details of available services. Visit their website for details of your local service. The Women’s Aid national freephone helpline is operating 24 hours a day on 1800 341 900. The freephone Male Advice Line number is 1800 816 588.
Access to Court Remedies
The courts remain open for urgent family law issues and will prioritise domestic violence applications. There are NO restrictions on domestic violence applications, and you can attend court for domestic violence court orders.
Remedies available under the Domestic Violence Act 2018 include the following court orders:
- Barring Order
- Safety Order
- Protection Order
- Interim Barring Order
- Emergency Barring Order
New applications can be made for barring, safety and protection orders at this time. You can also apply for interim barring and emergency barring orders and return hearings of interim barring order cases will also be heard. If safety order hearings are being adjourned, interim protective orders will be extended to the new date.
In the event of the breach of an existing domestic violence court order please contact the Gardai on 999. If you need support, there is a domestic violence support service in every county. Click here for details.
How to apply for a court order?
While asking for help regarding domestic abuse situation can be difficult, the Court Service knows what to do. All you need to say is ‘I need to apply for a domestic violence order’. The staff are fully trained and can guide you through the process. For contact details for any district court in Ireland click here.
Applications under the domestic violence legislation are generally made in the District Court. If you need to submit new applications, then you can leave completed documents in the drop box at your local court office and your applications will be issued through the post. Legal aid may be available to those who cannot afford a private solicitor. If a solicitor is not involved, you will need to contact your local District Court office. While legal representation is not necessary for the initial application, it is highly recommended for the full court hearing.
The Courts Services provide an accessible and informative webpage on domestic violence, providing detailed information on the available court orders and the application process, including who can apply (such as spouses, civil partners and co-habiting couples) and how to apply. Information is also available on the process and the implementation and enforcement of the court order.
If you have an underlying health condition the court service has arranged for matters to be held remotely during this time.
If for other reasons, your hearing is held remotely, you will be notified of any arrangement where accessibility options will be discussed.
What protection is available while awaiting the hearing for a safety or barring order?
An application can be made for emergency protection via a protection order or an interim barring order. The application can be made without notifying the other party. Where a protection order or an interim barring order is granted, this remains in force until the full hearing of the barring/safety order application, further details here.
Legal Aid
The Legal Aid Board continues to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a dedicated webpage providing details of how they are currently operating. You can apply for legal aid, if you need assistance with the court application, legal advice or court representation. You might qualify for legal aid if you cannot afford a private solicitor. You can check whether you are likely to qualify here.
Applications can be made online or through your local law centre, details here. However, at present, given the Covid-19 restrictions, all law centres are closed to the public but can be contacted by phone and email. The Legal & Mediation Information Helpline information remains open on lo-call 1890 615 200 or 01 646 9600 and full details are available here.
Further Information:
See the courts website for the most up-date information on the court services. Specific information relating to domestic violence court orders and support services, is available.
The President of the District Court has confirmed that domestic violence applications will continue to be prioritised. Information on relevant support services was also provided. You can read the statement here.
Support Services
Many support services continue to offer support to victims of domestic violence during the Covid-19 crisis, particularly through their telephone, email or online services.
Women’s Aid provides a safe, confidential and non-judgemental support service to women experiencing domestic violence, including emotional or physical abuse. Concerned family members, friends or professionals may also contact the service. Following initial contact via the freephone helpline, women may be referred to the following services:
- One-to-one support service
- Court accompaniment service
- Local domestic violence refugees and support services
- Legal aid
- Other relevant agencies
Women’s Aid Support Services during Covid-19
Full details of the adjusted services during the Covid-19 crisis can be found at: https://www.womensaid.ie/services/. The 24/7 freephone helpline (1800 341 900) remains open at this time. Women applying for domestic violence court orders can access the support service via the helpline. The link below provides access to further information about the helpline service, including information and advice on making the first call, available support, practical issues, and the Language Line facility if you are a non-English speaker. Information on the text service facility and new Instant Messaging Support Service is also provided. See:
Helpline: 1800 341 900
Text Service for Deaf and Hard of Hearing women available daily on 087 959 7980.
Online chat service available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7pm – 10pm at www.womensaid.ie/
At present, Women’s Aid Dolphin House drop-in service has been temporarily suspended. Women’s Aid Support for women applying for domestic violence orders are continuing by phone on 089 221 4636, Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm .
The court accompaniment service and face-to-face meetings are also temporarily suspended. Support continues to be provided to existing clients (already linked to a support worker) via the phone service.
For information about the restrictions impacting your local domestic violence support service or refuges, please call the Helpline on 1800 341 900 (this link provides a list of local services available with a drop down menu per county).
Safe Ireland members continue to provide domestic violence support services across Ireland throughout this crisis, each service has put in place contingency measures. Rolling updates will be provided on the Safe Ireland website.
In general, during the Covid 19 restrictions all support is being offered online or by phone. Refuges are open with some reduced capacity to enable social distancing. However, all domestic violence services are available to work with women to help them identify safety solutions.
For details of local services please click here. The Women’s Aid National 24-hour Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900.
Rape Crisis Centres – Rape Crisis Network Ireland
The 16 Rape Crisis Centres across Ireland provide crisis counselling and support services to male and female victims of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and childhood sexual abuse. They continue to provide support, while adapting their services to adhere with current guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online and telephone support and counselling services are currently being provided, however, the buildings are temporarily closed.
If you require crisis support, including information, advice and telephone counselling contact your local centre, details of which are available on RapeCrisisHelp.ie, or contact the 24-Hour Freephone Rape Crisis Helpline - 1800 77 88 88.
The Cork Sexual Violence Centre can be contacted via helpline 1800 496 496, text service 087 153 3393 or via social media.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) provides crisis counselling and support services to male and female victims of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and childhood sexual abuse. The DRCC continues to provide support, while adapting its services to adhere with current guidelines.
Accompaniment services to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit at the Rotunda Hospital are temporarily suspended. Contact will be made with those who have arranged accompaniment services for attending court or the Garda station. If you need assistance or have any queries regarding accompaniment needs, contact the helpline below.
Support continues to be available via the 24-hour freephone helpline (1800 77 8888), providing a confidential support service to victims of sexual violence, including information, advice and telephone counselling.
The DRCC provides a useful resource on grounding exercises to help reduce anxiety during this stressful time. Techniques include the use of our taste, smell, breath, vision, music and touch. This new resource is available here.
Contact Details: National 24-Hour Helpline - 1800 77 8888
FLAC’s free legal advice clinics are closed. However, they remain accessible via telephone during the current crisis. You can call 1890 350250 or 01 8745690, Monday-Friday from 9.30am-1pm and 2-5pm.
FLAC’s head office is also closed; however, staff are working from home. You can contact the main office on 01 887 3600. All staff are contactable by email and phone.
FLAC is producing a series of FLACsheets, with information about your rights during the Covid-19 pandemic. They will be available on the FLAC website at:
The FLACsheet Family Law Queries during Covid19 outbreak is also helpful and includes a short section on what to do if you experience domestic abuse at this time.
Men’s Aid Ireland supports men and their families experiencing domestic violence. Their website and Confidential Support Line: 01-5543811 and E-mail: hello@mensaid.ie remain operational during the Covid 19 crisis. Further information on the services is available here.
The Mens Development Network website provides a range of online and telephone services for Men during the Covid 19 Crisis and operate a dedicate Male Advice Line at 1800 816 588
MOVE Ireland provides domestic violence perpetrator intervention programmes. During the Covid-19 pandemic, MOVE will continue to help men concerned about the impact of their behaviour on their partner/ex-partner. Although all face-to-face support is temporarily suspended, support services continue to be available via telephone and online services. New referrals can be made during this difficult time.
Contact Details:
MOVE CORK - 086 6044047
MOVE GALWAY, SLIGO, MIDLANDS (ATHLONE)- 085 8748108
MOVE DUBLIN, MEATH, TALLAGHT, SWORDS - 086 4149591
MOVE LIMERICK/CLARE, NORTH TIPPERARY, KERRY - 086 4149613
An Garda Síochana
The Gardai are still here to help during restrictions. Should you require call out services to the home, this is still permitted under new regulations. As the pandemic continues, the Gardai have made it a priority to help those affected by domestic violence. Support has now increased and ‘Operation Faoiseamh’, has made domestic violence calls a priority. Further detail can be found here.
Bright Sky Ireland App
The Bright Sky Ireland app is a free mobile app available on Google Play and Apple App Store. It is an app disguised as a weather app on the outside, but the contents hidden inside of the app, connects victims of domestic and sexual abuse to advice support services in Ireland. It also provides a journal to record incidents of abuse by text, video, voice recording or photography. It was developed in collaboration with An Garda Síochána, Women’s Aid and Vodafone.
