By Chris Ashmore

Domestic violence sufferers in the Finn Valley who need a refuge are often finding themselves with nowhere to go - because the county’s only dedicated accommodation is almost always full.
But the chances of getting safe accommodation in the near future is bleak.
The Donegal Women’s Domestic Violence Service was given a site ten years ago to build a new refuge in Letterkenny - but this week it emerged that the project could be put on hold again, due to a planning issue about a road.
“It could be another three years,” declared DWDVS manager Fiona Doherty.
Shock new figures from the DWDVS reveal that in 2007, it received 2,229 help-line calls. During the year, it accommodated 37 women and 44 children - but it had to refuse a further 28 adults with 32 children.
Councillors have reacted angrily to the news that a badly needed refuge is still no closer after a decade of need. The existing one in Letterkenny can only house two families; the planned new one would be more than double the size with additional facilities.
However, the latest revelations, presented to councillors at a general purposes meeting in Lifford on Monday, has sparked off a major debate.
A council official contended that it was “not finance or lack of land” that was the issue, but councillors expressed horror that after ten years no real progress has been made regarding such a badly needed facility.
Meanwhile, latest figures show that from 2002-2007 the service had to refuse crisis accommodation to 180 women and 216 children.
“This has caused women and their children to remain in dangerous domestic violence situations as for these women the reality is that have no where to flee to,” stated Ms. Doherty, adding: “It is imperative therefore that this serious lack of crisis accommodation is urgently looked upon as a pressing need.”
Cllr. Alice Bonner said a new refuge is “badly needed” while Cllr. Rena Donaghy described the figures as “shocking.”
A report on the matter will now be prepared for councillors.