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Free Guide to Hiring a Family Lawyer
Domestic violence in Ireland covers a wide range of abuse within intimate or family relationships. It includes physical abuse, threats, sexual violence, psychological and emotional abuse, financial control, harassment, stalking, digital or tech-facilitated abuse, and coercive control. Carrigaline is in County Cork, so cases are dealt with under Irish national law and usually heard in the District Court serving the Carrigaline area. An Garda Siochana respond to incidents, the Courts can make protective orders, and local and national services provide supports and refuge.
The Domestic Violence Act 2018 is the primary legislation. It modernised protections, created the criminal offence of coercive control, expanded who can apply for court orders, and introduced emergency measures for urgent risk. Family law domestic violence proceedings are held in private, which means your case is not open to the public.
Although you can apply for protection without a lawyer, many people benefit from legal help because domestic violence cases often involve urgent safety questions and complex family, housing, and criminal law issues. Common situations include applying for a Protection Order, Safety Order, Barring Order, Interim Barring Order, or Emergency Barring Order, responding to an allegation or application made against you, planning safe contact or no contact arrangements, addressing child safety and access, guardianship and maintenance, dealing with overlapping criminal investigations or prosecutions, gathering and presenting evidence, preparing affidavits and sworn statements, negotiating undertakings and consent orders, enforcing orders after a breach, and coordinating with Tusla, refuges, schools, employers, landlords, or immigration authorities.
A solicitor can help you assess risk, choose the right order, complete applications quickly, represent you at hearings, protect your privacy where possible, and advise on supports such as legal aid, housing options, and employment entitlements. If you are a respondent who has been served with papers, a lawyer can explain your options, protect your due process rights, and help you comply with or challenge orders.
Key Irish legal protections that apply in Carrigaline include the following.
Types of court orders: a Protection Order is a short term order that can be granted quickly to protect you until the full hearing. A Safety Order prohibits violence or threats, harassment, following or watching, or contacting in an intimidating way. A Barring Order requires the respondent to leave and stay away from the home and not use violence or threats. An Interim Barring Order is a short term barring order made urgently, usually without notifying the other person first, where there is an immediate and serious risk. An Emergency Barring Order can be granted for a short period where someone is at risk but does not meet the usual property entitlement for a barring order. Durations vary, but generally safety orders can last up to 5 years, and barring orders can last up to 3 years in the District Court. Protection orders and interim or emergency barring orders are short term until the court hears the full case.
Coercive control is a criminal offence. It covers persistent controlling or manipulative behaviours in an intimate relationship that cause serious alarm or distress and have a substantial adverse impact on your day to day activities. Breaching a safety or barring order is a crime. Gardaí can arrest without warrant for a suspected breach.
Evidence can include your sworn testimony, photos, medical notes, Garda incident numbers, witness statements, texts, emails, call logs, social media messages, and diaries. The civil standard of proof applies in applications for orders, which is the balance of probabilities.
Family law privacy and supports: domestic violence applications are heard in camera, which means in private. You can ask the court to allow a support person and to arrange special measures such as separate waiting areas. You can ask to keep your home address off court papers for safety where appropriate.
Housing and work protections: if you are a private tenant affected by domestic violence, the Residential Tenancies Acts allow an eligible tenant to end a tenancy on short notice with specified supporting documentation. Talk to a solicitor or a tenancy advisor about the exact steps and evidence required. The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 introduced paid domestic violence leave for employees, currently 5 days per year, along with employer guidance on confidentiality and safety planning.
Related offences: assault, harassment, stalking, non fatal strangulation, criminal damage, and threats to kill or cause serious harm are criminal offences. Gardaí can investigate these separately from any civil protection order application.
Courts and policing in Carrigaline: applications are made in the District Court that serves the Carrigaline area, typically at a Cork city courthouse. In urgent cases, you can attend the Family Law office and ask to see a judge the same day for a protection order. An Garda Siochana respond to incidents in Carrigaline and across County Cork. Always call 999 or 112 in an emergency.
Domestic violence includes physical abuse, sexual violence, threats, intimidation, harassment, stalking, emotional or psychological abuse, financial control, and tech based abuse. Coercive control is a pattern of controlling or manipulative acts in an intimate relationship that seriously alarms or distresses the person and substantially affects their daily life. Coercive control is a criminal offence under the Domestic Violence Act 2018.
You can apply for a Protection Order for immediate short term protection, a Safety Order to prohibit violence or threatening or harassing behaviour, a Barring Order to exclude the respondent from your home, an Interim Barring Order in urgent cases, or an Emergency Barring Order for short term exclusion where you are at risk but do not meet the normal property rules. The court can tailor conditions to your situation, such as no contact or stay away terms.
In urgent cases you can usually apply for a Protection Order or an Interim Barring Order on the same day, without notifying the other person first. These orders last until a full hearing can be arranged, often within a few weeks. Bring any evidence you have and ask the District Court Family Law office for assistance.
No, not for urgent temporary orders. The court can hear your initial application ex parte, which means without the other person present. For the full hearing, the respondent will be served with the papers and has the right to attend and respond.
Bring anything that helps the court understand the risk and the pattern of behaviour. This can include your detailed account, photos of injuries or damage, medical records, Garda pulse or incident numbers, texts, emails, call logs, social media screenshots, witness accounts, and a chronology of events. A Garda report is helpful but not required to get a civil order.
No. Domestic violence family law cases are heard in camera, which means in private. Publishing details is restricted. You can ask the court to allow a support person to sit with you.
Breaching a safety or barring order is a criminal offence. Call 999 or 112. Gardaí can arrest without a warrant if they suspect a breach. Keep a record of what happened and any evidence, and speak to your solicitor about enforcement and further safety planning.
A barring order can require the respondent to leave and stay away from the home. If you are a tenant experiencing domestic violence, you may have options to end a tenancy on short notice with proper documentation, or to seek emergency accommodation and refuge supports. A lawyer or housing advisor can assess your best route.
Applications for domestic violence orders do not have court fees. If you cannot afford a solicitor, the Legal Aid Board may provide civil legal aid and advice subject to a financial assessment and merits test. There may be a modest contribution depending on your means. Ask about priority appointments for domestic violence cases.
If your residence permission depends on your partner, you may be able to apply for an independent permission under the Department of Justice domestic violence policy. Ask an immigration solicitor. Interpreters can be arranged for court. Tell the court office or your solicitor as early as possible so arrangements can be made.
An Garda Siochana - For emergencies call 999 or 112. You can also report non emergency incidents at your local Garda station in Carrigaline or Cork.
Courts Service - District Court Family Law offices can help with forms and listing urgent applications for protection, safety, or barring orders.
Legal Aid Board - Civil legal aid and advice for eligible applicants. Family mediation is also available and is separate from court, though it is not suitable where there is a current risk of harm.
Tusla - Child and Family Agency social work departments for child protection concerns and referrals. Tusla funds many local domestic, sexual, and gender based violence services.
Women’s Aid - National 24 hour support and information for women experiencing domestic abuse. They can safety plan and signpost to refuges and local services in Cork.
Men’s Aid Ireland - Support and advocacy for men affected by domestic abuse, including information on legal options and safety planning.
Safe Ireland - National network of domestic violence services and refuges. They can direct you to supports in County Cork.
Sexual Violence Centre Cork - Trauma informed support and accompaniment for survivors of sexual violence in the Cork region.
OSS Cork - Domestic Violence Information and Resource Centre providing support, information, and referrals for people in Cork.
Cork County Council - Housing services and emergency accommodation pathways, including coordination with local refuges and tenancy guidance.
Prioritise safety. If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or 112. If you can safely do so, document incidents and keep important items ready such as ID, bank cards, medications, and essential documents.
Get advice quickly. Contact a solicitor or the Legal Aid Board for guidance on the best order to apply for and the evidence needed. If you fear contact with the other party, ask about an ex parte application for a protection or interim barring order.
Apply for protection. Attend the District Court Family Law office serving Carrigaline. Explain that you need an urgent order. Bring any evidence you have. Ask to keep your address off the papers if that would increase your safety.
Consider parallel supports. Speak with Gardaí about any criminal offences. Engage with a local domestic violence service for safety planning, counselling, and refuge options. Tell your GP or a trusted professional so injuries and disclosures are recorded.
Plan for housing and work. Ask a lawyer or housing advisor about tenancy options if you need to leave quickly. Discuss domestic violence leave with your employer confidentially and ask for workplace safety measures where needed.
Prepare for the full hearing. Keep a timeline, organise your messages and photos, and identify any witnesses. Your solicitor can help you prepare your statement and represent you in court. If you need an interpreter or special measures, notify the court office in advance.
Follow up and enforce. Keep copies of your orders, share them with Gardaí and relevant services, and report any breach immediately. Review orders before they expire and apply to extend them in good time if needed.
If you are a respondent, get legal advice immediately. Read the order carefully and comply fully. Your solicitor can help you prepare your response and represent you at the return date to ensure your side is heard.
