A Dublin woman who set up a domestic abuse support group has said that there is "still not enough being done" to help domestic violence victims as many gardai stations mark Go Purple Day.
Ashtown woman Priscilla Grainger and her daughter Ainie are the founders of Stop Domestic Abuse in Ireland, which they set up in 2014 after suffering years of abuse themselves. They now run the support group to help others in similar situations.
Today is Go Purple Day, an initiative set up by An Garda Siochana to help raise awareness about domestic abuse and to show people that there is help available through support services, with events like coffee mornings and information stands, and garda buildings lighting up purple.
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Speaking to Dublin Live, Priscilla said that while Go Purple Day is a great initiative there is still "not enough being done" for domestic violence.
She said: "On the day today for domestic violence if gardai could do the jobs they're paid to do by enforcing the orders and getting them served, be it protective orders or safety orders or barring orders. Our biggest problem at the moment is getting the guards to do their jobs
"The guards are not doing their jobs and as a result we're having to put victims into hiding and places they can't be found. There's a girl down in Cork onto us at the moment and she has a safety order issued in January and it still hasn't been served."
Priscilla said that it is "wonderful" that guards are inviting domestic abuse support groups like Stop Domestic Violence to their events like coffee mornings this week for Go Purple Day, but that they are concerned over the time it takes for orders to be issued.
"Just two weeks ago I had to get onto Garda Commissioner Drew Harris's office directly myself and ask one of his inspectors to get an order issued where a victim couldn't get her estranged husband out of the house."
When asked about the current situation, Priscilla said that calls to their support group are "way up" and that they are receiving as many as 50 calls a week. "The refuges are full, there's no beds for any victims so victims are suffering hugely.
"The court support services are all under severe pressure." Priscilla also explained that a domestic violence bill which is going through the Dail.
"The bill is only going through the Dail and that's not protecting victims. What's protecting victims? Nothing. We're sadly disappointed that the guards are failing our victims, and if they're failing our victims they must be failing other organisations."
Priscilla previously told Dublin Live that she would like to see a new domestic violence court created to help domestic violence victims, but they have so far heard no word from the government on if this will be made into a reality. "We need our own court for domestic abuse victims, we need a wrap around service where when victims have to leave an abusive relationship or marriage that there is a housing system they're put on.
"At the end of the day, banks are repossessing homes and victims are being evicted out of properties and not being able to get HAP, there's no service there for victims of domestic abuse. There's no housing system in place and no medical system in place, they're on their own."
Priscilla explained how they have ten hampers going out this weekend for victims who are "in a bad way" to help them ahead of the May bank holiday weekend.
Priscilla and her daughter Ainie have also recently written a new book 'Safe' about their experiences living through domestic violence which is now on sale for €14.99, and for every book sold €5 goes towards victims of domestic violence.
Priscila added: "We're pleading for the guards to stop talking about violence and start doing something. Treat the victims with compassion, treat them with a bit of empathy.
"We know the pain of domestic violence and we are here for victims." Priscilla and Ainie's new book 'Safe' is available to buy online for €14.99 via www.stopdomesticviolence.ie
If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, you can contact Stop Domestic Violence Ireland's Facebook page here or ring 0868697022.
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