Residents with domestic violence convictions should be removed from Council houses
City Hall, Waterford city
Yesterday, President Catherine Connolly put her signature to the Domestic Violence Judgments Register Bill 2026, known commonly as Jennie’s Law.
It will result in those convicted of domestic violence against a partner being included on a publicly available register.
The law has been named in honour of 24-year-old Jennifer Poole, who was murdered by her former partner Gavin Murphy in 2021. Unbeknownst to Ms. Poole, Murphy had a history of abusive behaviour and a conviction for assaulting a former partner.
With a public register to be established, does it mean that local authorities now have a responsibility to ensure that names included on this register are not provided with Council properties?
A local councillor posed the question last week.
Several months ago, Cllr Eamon Quinlan requested that Waterford Council take action against people living in council properties who have received convictions in court for domestic violence. He asked that in those circumstances, the Council end the tenancy rights of the person convicted.
Cllr Quinlan revisited the suggestion last week, saying: “Things have now moved on, and Cabinet has recently approved Jenny’s Law.
“Effectively, the State will now hold a publicly available and inspectable register of people who have received convictions in court for domestic violence and/serious assaults against their partners.”
He said that it is now incumbent on the Council to produce an updated housing policy to reflect the new legislation.
“We should move to end the tenancy rights of an individual if they are in a shared home with a spouse or children where they have been convicted in the courts for domestic violence and/or serious assault."
Waterford Council Director of Housing, Seamus De Faoite, said he agreed with the suggestion, however there will be complications.
“I do think it would be a good idea to look at drafting a policy and bringing it back to the council. There will be issues with it though.
“Ultimately if a person is going to be displaced from the household there is the obvious question, where is that person going to go?
“But we will look at it.”
(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)
