Cavan Monaghan Fianna Fail TD, Deputy Niamh Smyth, says "a lot can be learned" from a new report on gender-based violence that was published this morning. The study - the first of its kind in Ireland - was conducted by UCC and the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, and focused on the experiences of those who've been stalked.
It found that the majority of victims know the person responsible and Deputy Smyth says that legislation will be progressed to treat stalking as a stand alone offence. Speaking to Northern Sound, the local TD highlighted how stalking is very often the prelude to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour on a person, or towards them online.
Deputy Smyth added that new laws - including CoCo's Law - are all steps in the direction to treating the matter as a serious crime. "For far too long, coercive control and abusive and intimidating behaviour has gone unchecked.
"I think that more and more people will see that the legislation around all of this is getting stronger and stronger. Minister Harris is now going to increase the maximum sentence for assault causing harm to 10 years.
And, all of this sends a strong message to the people perpetrating that behaviour, and more importantly to the people who are living in fear.
