Domestic violence cases rise to record level

Domestic violence cases surged to a record level in Cork City last year.

Gardaí investigated 724 cases while one offender, it emerged yesterday, breached a barring order five times.

Chief Supt Michael Finn told a Cork City joint policing committee (JPC) meeting that there had been a year-on-year rise in domestic violence since 2009, when at least 635 incidents were reported.