Council defers adoption of report on gender-based violence

The adoption of a set of recommendation arising from a report into the safety of women and girls in public spaces in Offaly was deferred by members of Offaly County Council at their meeting last week pending the presentation of its findings to the next meeting of the local authority.

The report on Gender-Based Violence in Public Spaces was commissioned following the horrific murder of Ashling Murphy just over a year ago, and was presented to a meeting of Offaly Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in December by Cllr Mark Hackett in his capacity as Chair of the JPC sub-group who undertook the work.

When Cllr Hackett brought forward a motion to the January meeting of Offaly County Council – which was seconded by Cllr Clare Claffey - calling for the recommendations in the report to be accepted and acted upon, Cllr John Clendennen expressed unease at accepting all the recommendations until each elected member was fully aware of them.

“Not every elected member is on the JPC” pointed out Cllr Clendennen “and if we go back to the December JPC meeting, there was a report that minorities don’t feel welcome in Offaly and I think this is something that needs to be addressed further.”

“I sent in this motion three weeks ago and it is the culmination of nine months work, so why wasn’t I informed that there might be difficulties with it? asked Cllr Hackett.

Cllr Clendennen said he was not looking for a re-drafting of the report or its recommendations, but added that he did have concerns about some elements of it.

“We are talking here about the safety of women and girls in public spaces and if we don’t want to adopt this report I don’t know what to say” said Cllr Hackett.

“I don’t want Cllr Hackett to put words into my mouth” replied Cllr Clendennen.

The Green Party Cllr said he wasn’t trying to put words in the mouth of his Fine Gael colleague, but added that if he had a problem with the motion he would have to put in a counter motion.

“This report was accepted by the JPC and it would be a very poor reflection on that body if we were found to be questioning it, and I feel we would just be kicking the can down the road if we defer it” said Cllr Hackett.

Cllr Clendennen suggested that Cllr Hackett might give a presentation to the next meeting of the council outlining the recommendations in the report. “Reports are only as good as the points that come out of them and this is one report that I definitely don’t want to see gathering dust on a shelf” he added.

Cllr Hackett agreed to give a presentation on the report to the February meeting, which was accepted by members.

Two surveys were conducted as part of the subgroup’s work; one was online and the other one conducted during town ‘walkabouts’ in Birr, Tullamore and Edenderry on ‘Offaly Safety Day” in June of last year. In total 335 responses were recorded.

The final report makes 13 recommendations to increase safety from gender-based violence in public spaces.

Among the 13 recommendations was that a working group be set up to apply to extend the CCTV system in Tullamore to the greenway/canal line amenity and public space.