Gardaí are to adopt a risk assessment tool to help them identify women most in danger from domestic violence and put together security and social supports to protect them.

Women who have suffered sexual abuse were “retraumatised” by the details of the Belfast rape trial and the way in which the woman at the centre of the case was treated in court.

Tough new anti-domestic violence laws will only be effective if the Government comes up with resources to match their scope, support groups have warned.

Young women need to better recognise controlling and coercive behaviour in their boyfriends, according to Women’s Aid.