Victims reluctant to speak out as gardaí fail to record incidents

GARDAÍ are ignoring calls to help lift the veil of secrecy surrounding domestic violence by no longer keeping comprehensive records on the issue.

This is while increasing numbers of victims are deciding to suffer in silence rather than make reports to the authorities.

Since 2002 calls to the national Women’s Aid helpline have risen by 72% yet police reports on domestic violence have fallen from 10,400 to 5,449 per annum.