One of the country’s largest women’s refuges yesterday said it had to turn away only one woman on Christmas Day, but warned that January is usually the month when there is a rush for services.

Sonas Housing has appealed to women across Ireland to seek help if they are being subjected to verbal and psychological abuse by their partners.

DEMAND for bed spaces in a new domestic violence refuge was so high in the last six months that it could only respond to just one in four cries for help.