FIANNA Fáil’s Dee Ryan has called for a comprehensive, government-wide strategy to combat gender-based violence in the wake of news of an attack on a Limerick woman which has shocked the nation.
The former Chief Executive Officer of Limerick Chamber and recent Fianna Fáil candidate for directly-elected mayor was amongst the hundreds of Limerick people who attended a protest in the city this past weekend held in solidarity with assault survivor Natasha O’Brien.
Calling for a system-wide approach, Ms Ryan said that a reduction of gender-based violence will only be achieved through a coordinated focus. She highlighted the importance of societal change, saying that “we need to stand our ground and address this issue head-on”.
“We must send a clear message to aggressors that violent behaviour is not normal, not acceptable, and will have serious consequences,” Ms Ryan declared.
The former mayoral candidate said that “a comprehensive, government-wide approach should be developed to tackle all aspects of this issue. We need preventative actions with government developing educational strategies for our young men and women, housing strategies for crisis and refuge accommodation, and strategies to address men’s mental health as well as victim support.”
Ms Ryan also wants to see that individuals who do harm are properly held to account. Increased prison spaces and a more victim-centred approach to sentencing, she believes, will help to ensure that crimes have consequences and that the correct message is delivered across society to perpetrators of gender-based violence.
“Protecting our mothers, sisters, friends, and daughters needs to be made a priority and a coordinated preventative approach should be taken by government in order to finally gain improvements in the everyday safety of women and girls. Only by driving down the incidence of gender-based, and all forms of violence, can we create a safer society for everyone.”
Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan also strongly criticised the fully suspended sentence handed down to Private Cathal Crotty, a serving member of the Defence Forces, who viciously assaulted Ms O’Brien.
Cllr O’Donovan, who represents Limerick City West, said: “Like everyone in this city and around the country, I am shocked and appalled at the leniency of the three-year suspended sentence that Cathal Crotty received, despite the fact that he pleaded guilty to beating an innocent woman unconscious during this horrific, unprovoked attack.”
“There is no place in our city for such savagery. Violence against women in Limerick is out of control and needs to stop now.
“I fully agree with calls today – including from my party leader Holly Cairns – for the DPP to review the leniency of this sentence with a view to appealing it. There must be real consequences for men who violently attack women.
“We all share the sense of injustice that Natasha is feeling following this sentence. I want her to know that every woman in Limerick stands behind her,” Cllr O’Donovan concluded.
