Carlow Women’s Refuge condemn recent protests at the Capuchin Friary in Carlow

The Carlow Women’s Refuge Campaign has issued a statement condemning recent protests at the Capuchin Friary following an announcement from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that the building located on Dublin Street, Carlow Town will provide accommodation for fifty adult male international protection applicants.

Following local protests and extensive talks with the Department local TD Jennifer Murnane O Connor confirmed that 'the Capuchin Friary Accommodation will be used to house families only and not 50 young men.'

The Carlow Women’s Refuge said they 'reject the misuse of the phrase ‘protecting our women’ as an excuse for racism and scaremongering.'

Spokesperson for the campaign, Ger O’Neill stated, 'We are one of nine counties with no refuge. There is tremendous support for our campaign in Carlow, and we know that Carlovians care about the safety of women. But there are a tiny minority of people attempting to spread lies and misinformation about men and we are urging the community not to believe what they hear.'

'The dangerous myths about foreign men hide the fact that the majority of people who experience sexual violence know the perpetrators. According to National Crime Survey carried out in England and Wales by the Office of National Statistics, 1 in 2 rapes against women are carried out by their partner or ex-partner and 5 out of 6 rapes against women are carried out by someone they know.'

'In Ireland, between 1996 and January 2023, there were 256 incidents where women died violently, with one in every two femicide victims being killed by a current or former male intimate partner. Some 163 of these women have been killed in their homes. In reality, women are most at risk from men they know. Women’s Aid, Safe Ireland and other domestic violences agencies have condemned the attempts to spread these myths. We want to express in the strongest possible terms that there is no evidence to substantiate this perceived threat and Carlow politicians who stand “in solidarity” against it themselves have been unable to explain it.'

Ger O’Neill continued, 'The Carlow Women’s Refuge Campaign calls on the community to recognise the hateful rhetoric that is behind this, and challenge it. Look to people who have been working to end domestic and gender-based violence and campaign for wraparound services. None of the people protesting are involved in this campaign or long-standing issue. In contrast, the only people who have continually harassed us have been spouting far-right ideas. The far-right are not fighting for women, housing or Ireland. They are using them to spread racism.'

'We fight for freedom from violence, and we fight for all people. Women, men, and children. Everyone wants to belong and be safe, and everyone has a right to safety and sanctuary.'