Government proposals to create a ‘domestic violence register’ should include a far wider range of offences, including more minor crimes, an Oireachtas committee has heard. The General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence, and International Instruments) Bill 2025 proposes the establishment of a ‘Domestic Violence Register of Judgements’, which would include court judgements for certain sexual offences or violent physical offences against a partner. Committee chairman Matt Carthy of Sinn Féin said that the current legislation seemed “quite restrictive” on the offences included. In court, they discovered Murphy had served time for domestic violence involving the use of a knife. Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service CEO Anne Clarke agreed, and said that “every day” they see serial perpetrators.

Source: Irish Examiner January 21, 2026 06:53 UTC