Domestic abuse up ‘fivefold’ in recession

The number of men seeking help with domestic abuse has surged in the past two years, primarily due to the impact of the recession.

John Griffin, chairman of Move (Men Overcoming Violence), a treatment group for abusive men, has offices across the country and its Cork-based national chairman said the recession had led to a spike in the number of cases of domestic violence and people seeking help.

John Griffin said the number of people contacting Move had increased “four- to five-fold” in the past 18 months to two years, with particularly sharp rises in urban areas.