'Staggering' rise in domestic abuse calls across Limerick

LIMERICK’S garda division has the highest rate of domestic abuse outside Dublin, “staggering” new figures have revealed.

In 2024, there were on average, more than 16 calls to gardai for every 1,000 people.

The figures were released to Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan.

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Nationally, the data revealed a rise in reports of domestic abuse to law enforcement officers.

In 2024, there were 65,244 domestic abuse calls made to gardai - representing a 45% increase from the number in 2020.

Local Aontu councillor Sarah Beasley said: “It’s staggering in this day and age domestic violence is on the rise.”

She believes the housing crisis has left many victims of abuse unable to leave their home for a safe space.

“Women are very trapped at the moment because there are so few places to rent. Women cannot leave a domestic house, they cannot leave their children. In this day and age, it’s sad to see,” she said.

Councillor Beasley noted men are also impacted by domestic abuse.

Gillian Baker, the training and development co-ordinator at Adapt, the local charity which provides a refuge to abused women says demand for their services remains high.

“In 2024, we had 124 women admitted to our refuse, a further 677 women were supported through community outreach,” she said.

Ms Baker added: “We have a concerning problem of violence towards women in our society”.

She added the national rise in domestic abuse calls is “shocking, but unfortunately not a surprise”.

A “new norm” needs to be created, she said: “One of zero tolerance for violence”.

The garda division with the highest rate of domestic violence reports was Dublin’s inner-city, with 21 per 1,000 population.