MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Informing Social ... - Amen

They felt that the law could be very easily twisted to suit the needs of the abuser.
Protection orders, safety orders and barring orders can be used against victims of
domestic violence in trying to gain access to their children. 60% of the focus group
did not know about the various orders that could be obtained.
The experience expressed by the focus group was that solicitors used them like
puppets on strings, and did not provide them with vital information that would help
them in their cases. The overall opinion of the focus group in relation to solicitors
was that it was potluck with whatever solicitor you would get. Some solicitors
would be understanding but the majority didn’t seem to believe the men, that they
could be victims of domestic violence and before any court proceedings would tell
the men that the chances of getting custody of their children were between slim to
none.
One of the men that he received a bill from his solicitor for €2,500 while he was still
receiving free legal aid, because he signed a form without knowing the full extent of
its implications. This was not an isolated incident. The men said that when dealing
with solicitors and signing any contract, that one should be very careful to read a
contract before signing any legal documentation, specially with a solicitor. Free
legal aid ceases if the applicant has capital for instance like a house or land, they
become completely liable for the full cost of legal representation from solicitors and
barristers.
There was agreement within the group that legal documents produced by the
solicitors, barristers and the courts were to be automatically signed by the men
without question because they feel they have no other option. One of the men’s
wives requested a safety order against him, and on the recommendation of his
solicitor he agreed to the safety order not understanding the full implications of the
order himself. Only to find out afterwards when he went to see his children in the
family home two hours later, that his wife was entitled to call the guards and have
him arrested as she claimed that he was in breach of the safety order.
In cases where the father is seeking custody of the children, solicitors normally
advised not to use the children to give evidence but the group agreed that in the
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