'Listen to Me! Impacts of Domestic Abuse on Children and Families' - Domestic Abuse Conference Planning Subgroup from left Breda Quinn, Principal Social Worker, Tusla; Sharon Doherty, Training and Development Officer, Tusla; Deirdre Malone, Principal Social Worker, Tusla; Mary Dunne, Project Support, Mayo Children & Young People Services Committees; Naomi de Rís, Inspector, An Garda Síochána; Kieran McGolderick, Principal Social Worker, Tusla; Roisín Moyles, Children First Information and Advice Officer, Tusla; Paddy Martin, Regional Chief Officer West North West, Tusla; Jarlath Munnelly, Coordinator Mayo Children and Young People Services Committees; Michelle Moran, Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Manager, Tusla; Katie Carthy, Tusla Liaison Sergeant, An Garda Síochána. Photo: Karen Chambers.

Mayo conference highlights impact of domestic abuse on families

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More than 150 representatives from Tusla, An Garda Síochána, CYPSC Mayo and Roscommon, and community and voluntary sector representatives, gathered to learn about the impact of domestic abuse on local communities.

The one-day conference, titled ‘Listen to Me! Impacts of Domestic Abuse on Children and Families’, took place in the McWilliam Hotel, Claremorris, and was jointly opened by Tusla Regional Chief Officer for West North West, Paddy Martin, and Garda Chief Superintendent Ray McMahon.

Tusla Area Manager for Mayo, Heather Wilson highlighted how important it is to work collaboratively to ensure supports are available for families who need them. She commented “This was a really important event for Tusla as it provided an opportunity to increase practitioners’ knowledge and skills and to collaborate with partners agencies, to gain a shared understanding of domestic violence and abuse and to inform others of Tusla’s Domestic Violence Informed Practice Guidance for Practitioners.”

Inspector Naomi de Rís from An Garda Síochána, also emphasised the importance of this event to members of An Garda Síochána (AGS). Speaking about the conference she said: “There have been so many changes in the area of domestic abuse and domestic violence in the last number of years, so it was really important for AGS, Tusla and the other agencies, to take this time to listen to the experiences of others, upskill and collaborate on this issue of huge importance.”

Speakers at 'Listen to Me! Impacts of Domestic Abuse on Children and Families' from left Detective Sergeant Kevin Mention, National Domestic Abuse Unit, Garda National Protective Services Bureau; Mary Butler Walsh and Ursula Conlon, Signs of Safety Learning and Development Practice Leads, Tusla; Áine Costello, National Coordinator for the Childhood Domestic Abuse Project, Barnardos. Photo: Karen Chambers.

Barnardos’ National Coordinator for the Childhood Domestic Abuse Project, Áine Costello, gave a presentation on ‘A Shared Understanding of Childhood Domestic Violence and Abuse’, while Detective Sergeant Kevin Mention, of the Garda National Domestic Abuse Unit, presented on how Gardaí respond, and progress incidents of domestic abuse reported directly to An Garda Síochána or through other agencies. Tusla’s Mary Butler Walsh and Ursula Conlon presented on Tusla’s Domestic Violence Informed Practice Guidance for Practitioners. Workshops held in the afternoon gave participants the opportunity to network and share their learning from the morning sessions, and how they can apply this to their practice.

The following supports are available in Mayo for anyone who has been affected by domestic violence and abuse or who would like more information. The Safe Ireland link is available here, the Local Authority Integration Team can be contacted here, and the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre is available here.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or 112.

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