West Cork Beacon sees surge in women tracked by partners using hidden devices

Cork refuge reports 15 tracking cases in a year as tech-enabled stalking becomes increasingly common

Chief executive of West Cork Beacon, MaryClare Clark, said the use of tracking devices in stalking and domestic violence situations is 'not very uncommon anymore with technology advances'. Picture: Alison Miles / OSM PHOTO

A Cork support service for survivors of domestic abuse has had to purchase a tracking detection device as it is seeing so many cases where women are being put under surveillance by current or former partners.

West Cork Beacon has had 15 cases in the past year where clients coming to them for support have been tracked through devices attached to their cars, to their children’s toys and in their handbags. In one case, a tracking device was hidden in a power bank charger given to the woman by her partner.