Number of womencalling abuse help lines still on the increase

MORE women are calling domestic violence helplines than ever before but many are still too afraid to do anything about it, Women’s Aid said yesterday.

Calls to the organisation’s helpline increased by 12.5% last year, to more than 11,000.

But fears of their abuser’s violent reaction means that just 1,500 callers reported telling friends or family, and only 650 contacted the gardaí.