Carol Nolan Calls for Tougher Laws on Sexual Violence
Carol Nolan spoke on 21 June 2022 about sexual violence, online threats and harassment, arguing that laws are not tough enough and calling for stronger legal responses. She commended An Garda Síochána and domestic violence support services and highlighted gaps in the justice system, including undue leniency in some cases.
Main concern
Nolan said current laws fail to adequately deter sexual violence and online threats - she argued tougher penalties are needed to prevent such behaviour and to protect women.
Justice gaps and leniency
She criticised undue leniency in prosecutions and sentences, saying inadequate responses leave women to suffer and are unacceptable in Ireland in 2022.
Support services acknowledged
Nolan praised An Garda Síochána and domestic violence support services across the country, and singled out services in her own constituency of Lee Shoffley as doing fantastic work.
Call for tougher laws
She reiterated that prevention depends on a firm legal response and urged a much tougher approach to ensure justice for victims and to curb abusive behaviour.
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I'm grateful to be able to speak briefly on this subject. I feel that all too often our laws are just not tough enough in relation to sexual violence against women or even in terms of online threats and harassment. I just feel that all too often we hear of cases where there's undue leniency and we just need to have tougher laws. We need to ensure that we can kind of curb this type of behaviour, prevent it from happening. The only way we can prevent such behaviour from happening is by having a tough response. Unfortunately, the responses in many cases are not tough enough, which leads to women having to suffer. That's just not right in the Ireland of 2022. I do want to commend An Garda Síochána for all they do and indeed our domestic violence support services across the country, particularly in my own constituency of Lee Shoffley. They're doing fantastic work. But the real gaps exist in terms of the justice and the lack of justice for women and the need for much tougher laws to be in place. Thank you so much.
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