Donegal Judge's concern at volume of domestic abuse withdrawals

A District Court judge in Donegal has expressed concern at the volume of domestic abuse cases that are being withdrawn.

Judge Alan Mitchell was speaking at Letterkenny District Court.

Upon the third mention of either the entry or anticipation of a statement of withdrawal, Judge Mitchell addressed the matter.

Sergeant Jim Collins told the court in one particular case that a ‘negative’ statement had been received by An Garda Síochána.

“It’s worrying,” Judge Mitchell said.

“I don’t know what the reason is. Is it pressure?

“People are in different and difficult situations and are wishing to withdraw.”

Pandemic escalated domestic violence cases in Donegal

People encouraged to call the centre to explore relationship concerns

Judge Mitchell’s comments come just days after it was revealed that reports of domestic violence heightened in Donegal during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Doctor Marie Hainsworth of the Donegal Domestic Violence Services told Donegal Live last week that many calls received by the centre were of an ‘extreme’ nature/

“A lot of the cases we were working on during the Covid period were all quite high risk, high security cases which would be unusual as a pattern,” she said,

“People were getting out to work, they had to leave the house and do things but when the pandemic hit, people were forced to stay indoors and where a situation had been underlying before - it escalated quickly in what was a trying situation.”