Ep 173 Understanding the Domestic Violence Bill 2017

Psychological abuse and controlling behaviour within a relationship is to become a crime punishable by up to five years in prison. The offence of “coercive control” is being included in the Domestic Violence Bill 2017, due to the hard work of campaigners, charities and politicians. Senator Collette Kelleher, programme & communications manager with SAFE Ireland Caitríona Gleeson and Labour Senator Ivana Bacik have worked tireless to get this groundbreaking Bill and amendments through. In this podcast, they explain what impact the new legislation will have, why it is only the first important step in tackling the pervasive problem of domestic violence and how there needs to be a complete cultural shift in how society views it.