Almost 16,000 disclosures of domestic violence against women were made to the Women's Aid helpline in 2017, while more than 3,550 diclosures of child abuse were also made.

According to the organisation's Impact Report 2017, 21,451 contacts were made to its 24-hour national helpline, during which 15,833 disclosure of domestic violence against women were made, along with 3,552 disclosures of child abuse in the context of domestic violence. 

The statistics contained in the report were described as ‘shocking and stark' by Women's Aid director, Margaret Martin. She said that domestic violence ‘is the deepest betrayal of trust within an intimate relationship'.

"Last year, women told us they were being verbally abused, being threatened with violence, being stalked both online and in person. Women told us about being locked out of their homes overnight with their children. Women were living in fear for their lives because they were being threatened with knives and guns, and abusive partners and exes were threatening to kill them, their children and their families.

"We also heard from women who were hospitalised as a result of domestic violence. Women whose partners or exes strangled them until they were unconscious and women being smothered. Women were also physically abused during their pregnancy with a number disclosing that they had a miscarriage because of the abuse," Ms Martin explained.

Meanwhile, 323 women disclosed that they were raped in 2017.

The report highlighted the barriers and dangers some women face when trying to leave an abusive partner, including in some cases, poor responses from the Gardai.

Overall, women had to contact the Gardai on more than 650 occasions last year, but 35% of women said that their responses were unhelpful. Inconsistent decisions and responses from the legal system were also highlighted.

"The response a woman receives can make a huge difference, both in terms of her safety, and in terms of her willingness and ability to engage with the justice system. However Garda response to victims of domestic violence can vary from negative to excellent, among and even within Garda stations.

"We continue to hear reports of Garda attending a domestic violence call and not enforcing orders under the Domestic Violence Act, not arresting the perpetrator when an assault or other offence has been committed, not assessing the risk to women and children, giving incorrect information on orders or simply dismissing the woman's experience and fears," Ms Martin noted.

The organisation also pointed out that separation does not always mean safety, with 28% of contacts last year stating that they were being abused by their ex-partners.

"Last year, almost a third of women we supported were being abused by an ex-boyfriend, ex-partner or ex-husband. Separation has long been identified as a risk factor for repeated and escalated domestic violence and femicide," Ms Martin said.

Meanwhile, Women's Aid also noted that women and their children are often put at risk by the decision of the courts to allow perpetrators of domestic violence to have access to the children of the relationship.

It recommends no contact with abusive fathers until contact is safe. Last year, there were 428 disclosures of women being abused during access visits and 97 disclosures of children being abused during access visits.

"We currently have a system where there is a presumption of contact for fathers. In our one-to-one services, we support women who face situations where Barring Orders are granted to protect a woman from her abusive partner, but there is often no assessment looking at the safety and wellbeing of the children.

"While the perpetrator is barred from the house, he often still has unsupervised access to the children and uses that access to continue abusing them directly and/or through having the children witness the abuse of their mother," Ms Martin said.

She pointed out that in cases where abusive ex-partners are granted access, including overnight access, this increases the contact women must have with them, thereby also increasing the risk to her and the children.

"This needs to change as a matter of urgency. Women are very upset to find that even in cases where there is physical violence against her and possibly the children in the past, that access is granted. We have also found that younger children who communicate their fear of going on access are not listened to by the courts," she explained.

The organisation insisted that the risk posed by a perpetrator of domestic violence to the children of the family, and the impact of such abuse on them, should be assessed, and that immediate interim measures are taken to protect these children until safe contact can be guaranteed.

"This report is a timely reminder that if we do not identify and address the barriers women face, they will be left struggling against the odds. It should not be left to a role of a dice for women to get positive and supportive responses from the ‘good Garda' or the ‘good judge'. They deserve a system that supports and protects them," Ms Martin added.

The Women's Aid helpline can be contacted 24 hours a day on 1800 341 900. For more information on the organisation, click here