Madam, - The report in your Health Supplement of January 10th on a study of domestic violence experienced by patients attending a Galway city doctors' practice once again shows that many men are also victims. This study, involving 200 patients, found that 20 per cent of men who participated were affected by abuse in the home.
These findings are similar to those of the national study on domestic violence published earlier this year by the National Crime Council (NCC). Among the notable findings of that study are: 15 per cent of women and 6 per cent of men suffer severe domestic abuse; 29 per cent of women and 26 per cent of men suffer domestic abuse when severe and minor abuse are combined; 13 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men suffer physical abuse; 29 per cent of women (one in three) and only 5 per cent of men (one in 20) report to the Garda.
The results relating to gender prevalence in both studies reflect the findings of the three other two-sex studies carried out in this country (for Accord, MRCS and the Department of Health).
Dr Caitriona Waters, who carried out the Galway study, is quoted as saying that the figure for male victims may be an underestimate as it is difficult for them to volunteer this information and men do not attend GPs as frequently as women. This is a valid point, and it is borne out by the findings of the NCC study which found that one in three women and only one in 20 men report to the Garda.
Given the overwhelming evidence, now available, which shows that a significant number of men are also abused in their own homes it is difficult to understand why the Government and State bodies persist with their gender-exclusive approach to this issue. Just before Christmas, Minister of State Noel Ahern launched a code of practice on domestic violence for use by projects within the Community Development Programme. This code is one of the most sexist, anti-man and ill-informed documents on domestic violence produced by any organisation in recent years. In order to justify the gender-exclusive approach the document states that "the most recent research into the prevalence of domestic violence in Ireland" was a study carried out by TCD in 2002.
It is inconceivable that Mr Ahern or his officials, in preparing this document, could be unaware of the NCC report which is accepted by other Government Ministers and Departments as the definitive piece of research into domestic violence in this country. Also, it should be pointed out that the TCD study dealt with female victims only and could not therefore be described as "research into the prevalence of domestic violence". The gender-exclusive policies of the Government are further shown by the fact that over €20 million in taxpayers' money is provided for supports for female victims while no ongoing funding is provided for services for male victims. Men who require supports either have to travel to the Amen offices in Navan (as many have done,) or do without. - Yours, etc,
MARY T CLEARY, Amen, St Anne's Resource Centre, Railway Street, Navan, Co Meath.