DESPITE a reported rise in domestic and sexual violence in the county, Fermanagh Women’s Aid has received a 6.5 per cent funding cut from the Department of Communities, placing its ability to deliver potentially lifesaving services at risk.
The crushing blow to the local service comes just weeks after devoted mother of one, Concepta Leonard, was murdered in her own home at the hands of her former partner, Peadar Phair.
She had been awaiting one-to-one services from Fermanagh Women’s Aid at the time of her death.
Speaking to the Impartial Reporter this week, the manager of the already overstretched local charity designed to protect women from violence and abuse says she and her staff have been forced to create eight-week waiting lists for services. 
They have been told by funders to create a ‘hierarchy of risk’ in clients, and have had no option but to turn away women and children from their not fit for purpose refuge.
“Any woman who walks through our door has the potential to be murdered,” said manager, Mary McCann. 
“Domestic Violence can escalate at any time. So how can we be expected to create a hierarchy? 
“Somebody some where has got to help us to get what we need to keep these women and children safe.”
Mrs. McCann says the local Women’s Aid charity has been “begging and pleading” for a new refuge for the county for the last 15 years.
“It is the poorest refuge in Northern Ireland. It is not fit for purpose.”
As a result, last year the refuge had to turn away 28 women and 27 children.
“The majority of them have no choice but to go back to the unsafe environment they were trying to escape,” said Mrs. McCann.
In 2016/17 Fermanagh Women’s Aid saw an additional 72 women access its Floating Support Services compared to the previous year -- 167 more service users than contracted funding provided for.

And now, the 6.5 per cent government funding cut, which came into force last month, places more strain on the service than ever before.
“Three years ago I started asking for funding for a floating support worker,” said Mrs. McCann, “One more floating support worker could work with an extra 30 women. We were told by funders: ‘Put women on a waiting list’.
“What can you say to someone who tells you that, knowing that they are giving you money to keep the service going? You just take what you can get and say ‘thank you’.
“So we now we have 30 to 40 women on a waiting list, waiting on average eight weeks to access the services that they need. I think the stage of the nice, gentle talking is over.
“People need to sit up and listen to what we are saying.”
Mrs. McCann believes the prevalence of high risk domestic violence incidents in Fermanagh is on a par with Belfast.
“Last month there were 10 MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference) cases in Belfast, in Fermanagh there were seven.
“We never want to ‘cry’ about being neglected, but the reality is that across Northern Ireland, Fermanagh Women’ s Aid has the smallest budget.
“I have seen it happening that other Women’s Aid organisations put in applications for additional support, just like ourselves, and we are the only Women’s Aid that don’t get anything.”
Asked how the the funding cut will impact Fermanagh Women’s Aid, Mrs. McCann is adamant that frontline services will not be affected.
“We cannot cut frontline staff, we just can’t,” she said, “But we are going to have to look at cutting hours.
“From September, two days a week, there will be no administration staff here.”
She says too, that debriefing support to front line staff who are dealing with “horrific” stories of domestic and sexual abuse will also be affected.
In a bid to take matters into their own hands, Fermanagh Women’s Aid sent a letter out to businesses in the local area around three weeks ago, calling on them to set up a ‘Give as you earn’ payroll scheme.
“We value women’s lives but, in the current economic climate, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain our level of service,” said the letter.
So far, no business has responded.
Mrs. McCann believes there is a greater public awareness now of domestic violence, in part due to Concepta Leonard’s untimely and horrific death, and also as a result of the Domestic and Sexual Violence awareness training that is offered by training coordinator, Michelle Alonso.
“But the world needs to change. 
“We need to get to a point where people stop asking: ‘Why doesn’t she just leave him’ and instead ask: ‘Why does he do that to her’.”
To any woman who has experienced domestic violence and has not yet sought help, Mrs. McCann’s message is simple: “Please lift the phone and contact us. We will be your voice until you have the strength to speak for yourself.”

Anyone who has been affected by domestic violence and is in need of support can contact Fermanagh Women’s Aid on 028 6632 8898.