EXCLUSIVE
BESPOKE courts to handle domestic violence cases could be rolled out across Northern Ireland within weeks.
The Irish News can reveal that the development follows a two-year 'pilot' in Derry, where all such cases are placed on the same court list in order to guarantee access to specialist support for victims.
Last year alone in Northern Ireland six murders had a 'domestic abuse motivation' while almost 3,000 cases included sexual offences including 737 rapes.
Domestic abuse now accounts for two and a half times as many crimes as those linked to drugs with police responding to call-outs every 20 minutes.
However, figures also show that fewer than 20 per cent of the hundreds of non-molestation orders which are breached every year, result in prison sentences.
The figures, which have been described as "not good enough" by SDLP Policing Board member Dolores Kelly, prompted the MLA to table an amendment to the Justice Bill.
The introduction of Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders - which are similar to non-molestation orders but are taken by the police instead of the victim - can be in place more quickly and protect the victim for up to 28 days.
"Police do have to work hard to convince victims to carry it through to court. And it takes a lot of courage for victims to take those steps," she said.
"Judges then need to step up in terms of sentences for breaches. They are really being let down by the judicial system in that regard."
A spokeswoman for the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Declan Morgan, said it would be wrong to compare sentences on different cases.
However, five months after a `Stopping Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse Strategy' was signed off "to ministerial level" by the department of justice and health, it is awaiting executive approval.
Justice minister David Ford told the Irish News he is "disappointed that progress has been so slow" on the joint strategy.
"I don't know why there has been a slippage, but it hadn't been in the department for justice," he said.
