You are at: Legal Issues >>> Checklist for an Application for a Barring Order / Safety Order.

• Full names of both you and your partner. The address at which your abusive spouse will be living after the barring order. The address of your home which is the place where your spouse will be barred from.
  
• The names and dates of birth of all your children and whether any of your children suffer from any mental or physical disability.
  
• List the incidents of recent violence and if possible list the incidents of violence over the previous years.
  
• Try to establish dates of the most serious incidents of violence. Gardaí and hospital reports may be needed and dates are essential. If you can't remember when these acts of violence occurred, think whether it was near a birthday, birth, summer, etc..
  
• A physical description of the abuser.
  
• If your injuries are still visible, photographs are recommended. These photos should be dated and have the name of the person who took them
  
• If you haven't been to a doctor and you still have injuries you should visit a doctor and get a full list of your injuries. A full medical report is preferred but it can take up to 2 weeks, and costs vary but, in cases of emergency, a note from your doctor will do. It is better if you can have your Doctor give evidence in Court on your behalf.
  
• The names and addresses of all the witnesses.
  
• Were there any previous orders or safety orders? If there has been a history of barring orders during which the man was allowed back into the house, the Judge may refuse to grant another

Evidence for your court hearing is very important, so make sure you bring all evidence to court, e.g. Doctors reports, letters from social workers, Polaroid photos or reliable witnesses.

• A doctors report can include stress related illnesses resulting from the abuse you suffer
  
• Witnesses can be your family, friends and neighbours who have witnessed your spouses abusive behaviour towards you. Gardaí have to be summoned to attend as witnesses. Neighbours may be afraid to testify, it may help to assure them that the abuser will be told that they Co-operated only because they were summonsed.