'Dark trend': Limerick and North Cork record highest level of domestic abuse cases in a decade

More than 2,500 cases of domestic abuse were reported in Limerick in 2023

There are now 128 garda call-outs for domestic abuse incidents every day of the year, according to Aontú's general election candidate in Limerick city, councillor Sarah Beasley. File picture: Dominic Lipinski, PA

Limerick recorded the highest level of domestic abuse cases in a decade last year.

The Limerick garda division recorded 2,584 such cases in 2023, compared to 989 in 2014. In the first three months of 2024, 544 cases were reported there.

North Cork also recorded the highest level of domestic abuse cases (1,272) in a decade last year, compared to 543 in 2014. The data was provided by gardaí after a question raised by Aontú party leader, Peadar Tóibín.

The types of incident reported include breaches of interim barring orders, protection orders, barring orders, safety orders and emergency barring orders.

Aontú's general election candidate in Limerick city, councillor Sarah Beasley, said: “It’s not just in Limerick as the number of domestic abuse incidents have increased from 14,264 in 2014 to a shocking 46,539 throughout the country last year. Sadly, this dark trend is continuing this year.

“There are now 128 garda call-outs for domestic abuse incidents every day of the year. The truth is, Ireland is becoming a more dangerous place for women." 

Citing a report commissioned by Women’s Aid in which Ireland ranked at number 43 for watching porn sites, she added: “More than one in every three pornographic videos depicts sexual violence or aggression against women, and children as young as 10 are consuming this material every day.” 

Last month, this newspaper reported that almost half of people living in rural Ireland (48%) are not concerned about domestic violence and abuse, despite more than a quarter of them saying they know someone who has been a victim of such harm.

An Irish Examiner poll of rural dwellers found 27% of people say that they know someone who’s been a victim of domestic violence and 6% said they had been a victim of domestic violence themselves.