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Dáil
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Misogyny in courts

Summary

Deputy Coppinger condemned court practices that she said undermine women complaining of sexual violence. The Minister of State sympathised, said legislation must be victim-centred, and promised a response from the Justice Minister.

It is unfortunate the Minister for Justice had to leave because I wanted to ask him and the Government what laws they will bring in to stop the relentless parade of misogyny we see in the courts. Yesterday, a woman said she was broken twice after she watched a garda who carried out multiple sexual assaults against her and falsely imprisoned her on the job in a Garda station when she was seeking help. She had to listen as his wife testified and 35 character references were pasted up in defence of him. We have had counselling notes, character references and God knows what being used to undermine victims and beef up defendants. When will we see character references completely obliterated? Even if the amendment had been carried out whereby people have to testify, she would have had to listen to 35 people, including a Garda superintendent and other gardaí, testifying against her. It is absolutely outrageous.

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Like the Deputy's, my thoughts are with the woman involved in that case, who went through a shocking series of incidents with that person. I cannot comment directly on the court case. Our thoughts are with her. We need to ensure all legislation we advance is victim-centred.

That will be central to the legislation the Minister for Justice advances. I will ask him to respond to the specific questions the Deputy raised in the context of the Government's legislative programme.

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