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	Almost 80% of women who suffer abuse in the home never report it, according to Safe Ireland, the charity that supports women and children experiencing domestic violence.</p>
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	Women are being subjected to extraordinary and barbaric acts of violence every day in this country,&rdquo; said CEO Sharon O&rsquo;Halloran last night in the wake of the jailing of a man who attacked his girlfriend with sugar-laced boiling water.</p>
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	&ldquo;This low level of reporting means that thousands of women are living with a serious threat to their lives, in silence and alone.&rdquo;</p>
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	Victim Tara Byrd warned women yesterday to end relationships with violent and possessive men as her former partner, Michael Lynch, was jailed for two and half years &mdash; a sentence she regards as too lenient.</p>
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	&ldquo;If they feel any man is controlling them or being paranoid, get away from them, it will only get worse,&rdquo; she said as watched Lynch being led away to prison.</p>
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	Rape Crisis Network Ireland praised her courage for speaking out.</p>
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	&ldquo;We see the levels of control, intimidation, and entitlement that this man held over Tara Byrd,&rdquo; said Cliona Saidlear of RCNI. &ldquo;We commend Tara&rsquo;s statement warning about controlling behaviour in relationships.&rdquo;</p>
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	Ms Byrd, of Old Youghal Rd in Cork City, received third-degree burns after Lynch poured boiling water and sugar on her left leg. She had to have a skin graft as a result of her injuries.</p>
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	She gave the jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court a harrowing account of her ordeal which began after he became jealous of a mutual male friend.</p>
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	&ldquo;He put the sugar in the kettle and boiled it. He said if I screamed he would hit me over the head with an iron bar,&rdquo; she recalled, adding that Lynch refused to call an ambulance which left her in agony all night.</p>
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	Safe Ireland said more resources are needed to combat this kind of crime.</p>
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	&ldquo;Safe Ireland wants to make Ireland the safest country in the world for women and children,&rdquo; said Ms O&rsquo;Halloran.</p>
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	&ldquo;This can be done, but not without serious leadership and the resources required to meet women&rsquo;s needs when they are brave enough to speak out.&rdquo;</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 8th June 2016)</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/80-of-victims-do-not-report-domestic-abuse-says-charity-403713.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/80-of-victims-do-not-report-domestic-abuse-says-charity-403713.html</a></p>
