Wait for Longford domestic violence refuge could finally be over
Funding to open a domestic violence refuge in Longford could finally be delivered, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has indicated.
Longford is among nine counties that does not have a refuge available for victims of domestic violence and while public representatives and domestic violence support services have campaigned locally for years, no money was available.
Now, however in the wake of Ashling Murphy's death in Tullamore, it appears that there could be movement. The Taoiseach committed to providing for such services, while speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland on January 20.
"I can understand people's cynicism, and scepticism about whether this will be done. I can assure people it will be done. It will be followed through," he said of funding for services.
"The death of Ashling Murphy has shocked the nation. We saw in the Dáil that all parties are resolved to work together... to create a cross-party mechanism to ensure that we can fulfill these timelines and ensure that we're not back in a year's time asking why these timelines weren't met."