Women's charity records 33% increase in reports of domestic abuse last year
Women’s Aid recorded an “utterly appalling” 33 per cent increase in disclosures of domestic abuse last year, but has warned these figures are just the “tip of the iceberg”.
In its annual impact report launched on Wednesday, the charity said demand for its services reached a record high last year, with contacts to its frontline services up 11.5 per cent in 2025.
Women told the charity their partners or ex-partners had subjected them to a “broad and brutal” pattern of abuse, including assaults with weapons, constant surveillance, relentless putdowns and sexual assault and rape, the Irish Examiner reports.
“The level of demand for Women’s Aid services during 2025 remained both unprecedented and deeply concerning,” the charity’s chief executive Sarah Benson said.
“Behind every contact and disclosure is a woman or child navigating fear, coercion, and harm, often within situations of profound complexity.
"Abuse continues to manifest across emotional, physical, sexual, and economic dimensions, frequently compounded by housing insecurity, financial strain, and systemic barriers within the justice system," she said
Among the 62,275 disclosures of domestic violence and abuse recorded last year were 1,522 disclosures of abuse during pregnancy or post-partum, 1,321 threats by abusers to kill women, children, family members or to self-harm, and 381 disclosures of rape.
Almost one third of women in contact with Women’s Aid’s services last year reported abuse from their ex-partner, which the charity said confirmed the “harsh reality that for many victims and survivors, ending the relationship does not end the abuse”.
It said the impacts on women suffering from abuse were “chilling”, and included exhaustion, isolation and hopelessness to serious injury, miscarriages, poverty, suicidal ideation and homelessness.
Over the last four years, it said there had been a sustained increase in the demand for its services, with most women coming forward for the first time.
Benson said: “The housing crisis, delays within the legal system, limited or no access to legal aid, and the ongoing cost-of-living pressures all intersect with domestic violence in ways that can limit options for women seeking safety.
"For many, leaving an abusive relationship remains fraught with risk and uncertainty.”
She added the Government must prioritise consultation with groups such as Women’s Aid when developing the next national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and the family justice strategy and housing plan.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women’s Aid (24-hour freephone helpline at 1800-341 900, email helpline@womensaid.ie) or Men’s Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01-554 3811, email hello@mensaid.ie) for support and information.
Safe Ireland also offers a number of local services and helplines at safeireland.ie/get-help/where-to-find-help/. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
