The Impact of Political Conflict on Domestic Violence in Northern Ireland

Abstract

There is a well-developed body of literature on the subject of domestic violence and the societal constraints facing abused women. There has, however, been less examination of the interrelationship between violence against women in the home and the political violence occurring in the wider society. This was one of the issues studied in a recent research set in Northern Ireland before the ceasefire. Here we will discuss the implications for abused women and children living in a society, such as Northern Ireland, which has been dominated by a high level of political conflict. It will also examine the state response to such abuse occurring in the midst of that conflict. Raising the issue of domestic violence is problematic when it is considered to be a distraction from the policing of other forms of violence in what has been one of Europe’s longest running political conflicts. When violence occurs in the more private domestic arena of the family home and when the society also happens to be a more traditional, religious oriented one then further constraints can exist in recognising domestic violence as a serious problem.

Please note that although the research reported here was completed before the ceasefire, findings are sometimes recorded in the present tense.