Calls for adult safeguarding law after murder of 89-year-old Josie Ray in Tipperary
The murder of Josie Ray has exposed Ireland's lack of adult safeguarding legislation, the chair of Safeguarding Ireland has warned.
Ireland lacks adult safeguarding framework, charity warns after Nenagh murder
Ireland has "no adult safeguarding legislation" — a gap made starkly visible by the murder of 89-year-old Josie Ray in her home in Nenagh, Co Tipperary in 2024, according to rte.ie.
Patricia Rickard-Clarke, Chair of Safeguarding Ireland, made the remarks following the sentencing of Hasan Ali Gori, 52, to life imprisonment for Ms Ray's murder. The verdict was handed down after a trial at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Rickard-Clarke said the case "identifies very clearly" Ireland's "lack of any adult safeguarding framework". Safeguarding Ireland, a charity that promotes the protection of vulnerable adults, has been advocating for such legislation and considers it "one of our main priorities".
The charity's second priority, she said, is the creation of a cross-sectoral independent safeguarding body — one "equipped with legislation powers to co-ordinate all aspects of adult safeguarding". Such a body would receive reports of actual or suspected abuse or harm and "ensure that action is taken", Rickard-Clarke said.
She noted that a number of bodies had already been "trying to keep Josie safe", underscoring the need for a centralised structure to co-ordinate those efforts.
Rickard-Clarke also pointed to gaps in existing criminal law. An offence of coercive control has been in place in domestic violence legislation since 2018, she acknowledged, but said it "is limited to a person who is or has been in an intimate relationship" and does not extend to other relationships.
She called for new offences covering serious psychological harm to be introduced through a criminal justice bill, describing the matter as urgent. "These offences could be contained in a criminal justice bill now, and it is urgent that these be addressed and dealt with," she said.
Rickard-Clarke also flagged "huge gaps" in data sharing where safeguarding concerns arise, warning that this "prevents effective safeguarding practice".
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)