Calls for regional shelter in West Cork to help victims of domestic violence

Women who have been victims of domestic violence in rural West Cork have called for a regional emergency shelter and for longer opening hours for a vital crisis support service.

It has also emerged that there was a spike in calls to the West Cork Women Against Violence Project’s (WCWAVP) domestic violence crisis helpline in the wake of the murders of Clodagh Hawe and her three sons, by her husband, in Cavan, late last month.

New figures also show that over 1,200 calls — almost four a day — were made last year to the West Cork agency’s crisis helpline by women in the area seeking help.