A Kerry TD has urged the Government to act quickly on the results of a new study into familicide and domestic homicides.
The study, published by the Department of Justice, includes testimony from families with first-hand experienced.
It was published yesterday, the same day inquests were held into the deaths of a Lixnaw family.
Eileen and Jamie O’Sullivan from Kilfeighney, Lixnaw were killed by Mossie O’Sullivan, their partner and father, in September 2021 before he took his own life.
Their inquests were held in Listowel yesterday and coroner Helen Lucey returned a verdict of unlawful killing in both Eileen and Jamie O’Sullivan’s cases; she returned a verdict of suicide in the case of Mossie O’Sullivan.
The study into familicide and domestic homicides recommends victims should have their medical bills, funerals costs and legal costs covered by the State.
The family of Eileen and Jamie O'Sullivan from lixnaw met with the Government last month; they're confident there will be changes in the law which will help prevent future familicides.
Sinn Féin TD for Kerry and the party’s spokesperson for Justice, Pa Daly says this review is an important watershed moment in what are extremely shocking and violent cases that tear communities apart.
He says he commends the families who have campaigned tirelessly to ensure that other families facing devastating violence like this receive better support.
Deputy Daly says the review covered the years 2000-2018 and only included cases where all legal proceedings had been completed.
He says this gave a figure of at least 166 people having died in familial violence during that time, with the state pathologist’s office telling researchers a further 14 cases between 2014 and 2019 did not feature in public records.
Deputy Pa Daly says this demonstrates the urgent need for a national database on such deaths and the upcoming domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency bill provides an opportunity to advance policy in this area.
The Kerry TD says this report must be implemented quickly; he says every second counts for families at risk of such violence and we cannot afford to see any further delays.
