Women’s Aid notes increase in financial abuse

FESTIVE season stress often trigger violence and abuse at home and there has been a notable increase of financial abuse in recent times, Women’s Aid has said.

According to the Deirdre Campbell, manager of the free national helpline, examples of this financial abuse include withholding money for Christmas presents and food; withholding child maintenance; and forcing the woman to take debt in her name to meet the family’s financial needs.

Ms Campbell said while domestic violence is a feature of life throughout the year, at Christmas, the extra pressures which are placed on women and their families can exacerbate domestic violence incidents.