3,450 women contacted domestic abuse helplines during the first six months of the covid-19 crisis.
New research from SAFE Ireland also shows that nearly 600 children also reached out for the first time during March and August.
In that time, 33,941 helpline calls were answered.
That's more than 180 calls each day and marks a 25% increase on the figures from last year.
This report exposes, yet again, the enormous prevalence and patterns of domestic violence in this country exacerbated by a pandemic that locked women’s and families down with their abuser. pic.twitter.com/usaaG6uqT2
— Safe Ireland National Social Change Agency CLG (@SAFEIreland) November 10, 2020
The report also shows that due to a lack of space, 1,351 requests for refuge could not be met.
Safe Ireland Spokesperson Edel Hackett says the pandemic had a serious impact on domestic abuse.
"This is not the first shocking report of statistics on domestic violence in this country, but it exposes the enormous prevalence and the patterns of domestic violence exacerbated by the pandemic, not caused by a pandemic. It's locked women and children down with their abusers."
