'Their response is unacceptable and I feel strongly about that...

Emma slams reply on abuser references

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A BRAVE domestic violence survivor has said she is disappointed with a response she received from Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan after trying to raise the issue of character references for violent abusers.

Emma Hallahan wrote to the minister after her attacker Anthony Mackessy received a light sentence after presenting a glowing work reference that is now under investigation as to its origin.

In an email seen by this paper, she highlighted to the minister what she said was a “serious gap in current practice regarding domestic abuse proceedings,” and requested he consider introducing reform.

She said: “At present character and employment references submitted on behalf of defendants in domestic abuse cases are often accepted by the courts without any requirement for the referee to swear the content on oath or provide [a] statutory declaration. This means that statements which may be unverified, misleading, or incomplete, can influence perceptions of the accused during key states such as sentencing.”

In her email, Ms Hallahan also called on the minister to address the issue, but was met with a response from a private secretary who acknowledged receipt of it.

Ms Hallahan said she was disappointed not to receive a more personalised response.

However, yesterday, after being contacted for comment, the Department of Justice sent a new response to Ms Hallahan confirming her email and informing her that they would eventually respond.