What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic Violence refers to the use of physical/emotional force or the threat of physical force, including sexual violence, in close adult relationships (National Taskforce Against Women, 1997). This includes violence perpetrated by a spouse, partner, son, daughter or any other person who has a close or blood relationship with the victim. The term ‘Domestic Violence’ can go beyond actual physical violence and can also involve any of the following forms of emotional abuse: the destruction of property; isolation of the victim from friends, family and other potential sources of support; threats to others, including children; stalking; and control over access to money, personal items, food, transportation, the telephone, internet and social media (HSE Policy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, 2010). The Domestic Violence Act 2018 has provided for a new criminal offence of Coercive Control, stating that ‘Coercive Control is a persistent and deliberate pattern of behaviour by an abuser over a prolonged period of time designed to achieve obedience and create fear. It may include coercion, threats, stalking, intimidation, isolation, degradation and control. It may also include physical and/or sexual violence.’ Coercive Control is psychological abuse in an intimate relationship that causes fear of violence and serious alarm or distress and has a substantial adverse impact on a person’s day-to-day activities (Domestic Violence Act 2018).2

Domestic Abuse has not been defined in Irish legislation. The published policy of An Garda Síochána on Domestic Abuse Intervention 2017 (developed in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions) defines Domestic Abuse as the ‘physical, sexual, financial, emotional or psychological abuse of one person against another who is a family member or is or has been an intimate partner, regardless of the gender or sexuality’.3 In such situations, the perpetrator uses a range of abusive behaviours to gain and ensure power and control over the other person, and these abusive actions often get worse over time. In most cases, it is women are the victims of Domestic Abuse and male partners (husbands, boyfriends or exes) who are the perpetrators. Domestic Abuse can, however, also occur between family members and same-sex couples and be perpetrated by women against men.4 The following two diagrams present tools that can be utilised in Domestic Violence to understand the tactics abusers use to gain power and control.

2 Community Response to Domestic Abuse, Western Regional Network. 3 An Garda Síochána (2017), Domestic Abuse Intervention Policy. 4 Domestic Abuse NAP 2017, Tusla.

Power & Control Wheel

The Male Experience of Domestic Abuse

Domestic Abuse can be defined as the emotional, physical, sexual, psychological or economic abuse of power that generally forms a pattern of behaviour which develops and escalates over a period of time, the impact of which can be devastating for the victim regardless of gender. Men also experience Domestic Violence/Abuse and are also negatively impacted by their experiences.

There is a paucity of research in Ireland regarding the male experience of Domestic Violence. One notable exception is Watson and Parsons’ (2005) study, which provides some information concerning the gender prevalence of Domestic Abuse in Ireland.5 This study, commissioned by the National Crime Council of Ireland, found that 6% of Irish men have experienced severely abusive behaviour of a physical, sexual or emotional nature from an intimate partner at some time in their lives, which equates to 88,000 men. It also found that men have a higher risk of minor Domestic Violence incidents and a lower risk of severe abuse incidents, but the researchers estimated that only 5% of men who had experienced Intimate Partner Violence had reported it to the authorities, compared to 29% of women.

Domestic Violence supports to men are not exclusively supplied by male service providers, and men can and do contact Women’s Aid and Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, as well as local Domestic and Sexual Violence service providers. Tusla supports two services that specifically provide nationwide support to men who experience Domestic Violence and Abuse. These are:

• The Men’s Development Network and • Men’s Aid Ireland

Both deliver a range of supports to men impacted by Domestic Abuse, including phone support, court services, therapeutic supports and Outreach. The Men’s Development Network operates the RESPECT UK model of working with male victims and the Male Domestic Violence Advice Line. The Respect model of intervention works with both victims and perpetrators of Domestic Violence. For more information, see https://www.respect. uk.net/.

5 Watson, D. and Parsons, S. (2005) ‘Domestic Abuse of Women and Men in Ireland: Report on the National Study of Domestic Abuse’, The National Crime Council, Economic and Social Research Institute.