A record number of women and children reached out to Women’s Aid in 2024, as the organisation logged the highest levels of contact and disclosures of domestic abuse in its 50-year history.
According to the newly published Women’s Aid Annual Impact Report 2024, the national and regional services were contacted 32,144 times, a 12% increase from the previous year. During these contacts, 46,765 disclosures of domestic violence and abuse were recorded—a 17% jump compared to 2023.
The majority of disclosures, 41,432, concerned abuse against women, while 5,333 were related to children. The 24-hour National Freephone Helpline alone received 24,396 calls, a 17% increase year-on-year.
Rising Levels of All Forms of Abuse
The report highlights disturbing trends across all categories of abuse:
One-third of women seeking help were being abused by an ex-partner, underlining the often-prolonged nature of domestic violence even after a relationship ends.
Devastating Impacts on Victims
Women reported experiences ranging from physical assaults and sexual violence to coercive control and financial domination. Some described being constantly monitored, having intimate images shared without consent, or being threatened with harm to themselves or their children.
The psychological and physical tolls reported included isolation, homelessness, suicide ideation, miscarriage, and severe emotional trauma.
Systemic Failures Highlighted
Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid, described the findings as “utterly appalling” and warned that the data likely represents only a fraction of the true scale of abuse.
“Fear, stigma, and outdated social attitudes mean that many victims suffer in silence,” Benson said. “We know that one in three women in Ireland experiences intimate partner abuse, but a significant portion will never tell anyone.”
Eavan Ward, Head of Regional Services at Women’s Aid, pointed to growing frustration among survivors navigating Ireland’s legal systems.
“The family law system is slow, expensive and often fails to protect women and children,” she said. “Even after separation, many women are forced to interact with abusive ex-partners due to shared parenting, and this can be a time of heightened risk.”
Challenges in Housing, Justice, and Policing
The report raises concerns over limited resources for specialist services, inadequate housing supports, and continued delays in the family and criminal court systems. Marginalised groups—including women with disabilities and migrant backgrounds—are disproportionately affected.
Women’s Aid also noted inconsistencies in the response from An Garda Síochána. While some units, such as the National Protective Services Bureau, have shown strong collaboration, 44% of women surveyed described Garda responses as unhelpful. The group is calling for more comprehensive training across all Garda units on domestic abuse and related legislation.
A Call to Action
Women’s Aid continues to call for stronger cross-government action in implementing Ireland’s Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The group also highlighted the need for workplace awareness and better responses to online abuse and pornography-fueled violence.
The organisation is urging employers to make use of www.dvatwork.ie, a free open-source resource to support employees experiencing abuse.
