Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan has urged the Justice Minister to enforce existing domestic abuse laws completely to protect victims of coercive control in family courts.

Finnegan plans to introduce a motion that seeks better access to legal aid. The motion also aims to stop perpetrators from misusing family court processes.

She stated that coercive control persists after relationships end. Victims face continued control and harm through legal proceedings in family courts.

Finnegan noted that the 2021 domestic abuse laws recognized coercive control and established protections. Many of these safeguards remain unimplemented.

She said victims who report abuse should not face retraumatization in the system designed to help them.

Finnegan called for urgent action to enact the remaining protections. She also requested enhancements to legal aid availability and measures to prevent family courts from enabling abuse.