Private courts 'leading to culture of secrecy on domestic violence'

Holding cases in the family courts in camera contributed to "the culture of secrecy" around domestic violence and should be ended, a conference on violence against women was told yesterday.

Judge Kieran Boothman, who presides over the Family Violence Court in Perth, Australia, was speaking at a conference in Dublin organised by the charity Women's Aid.

The pre-election conference was held to mark the publication of Women's Aid's new strategy document which calls for a "four-R" strategy to tackle violence against women. The four Rs are encompassed in the document - Respond, Reform, Research, Resource.

"I specifically fought tooth and nail not to have any in-camera hearings at all," said Mr Boothman. "I don't think you should be shy about having open procedures. The in-camera rule encourages secrecy."

The Minister of State for Justice, Ms Liz O'Donnell, said she would support a limited suspension of the in-camera rule if it could be achieved without identifying parties to the cases.

Ms Eithne Fitzgerald, Labour Party spokesperson on Children, also supported a "limited suspension" of the rule, while Ms Anne O'Sullivan of Sinn Féin said that if women victims of domestic violence read of such cases, it might encourage them to seek help.

Ms Denise Charlton, director of Women's Aid, said two out of three women who sought accommodation at women's refuges were refused, because of lack of space. The current response to women experiencing violence in the home was "clearly inadequate", she said.

"If we are not even able to provide a safe place for women and their children how can we say we protect them? We not only need more services but services which cater for all women, including those with special needs, to ensure that all women can be protected from violence."

Mr Don Hennessy, director of the Cork Domestic Violence Project, said there was a need for legal reform to ensure perpetrators of violence were held accountable. Only 3 per cent were currently sanctioned, he said. "Orders are not enough to protect victims of violence. We urge any incoming government to give full support to a new programme which mandates abusive partners to attend perpetrator programmes as part of a graded system of sanctions which monitors their behaviour."

The Women's Aid Freephone helpline, 1800 341 900, is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.