THERE WAS A 33% increase in the number of reports of domestic violence and abuse in 2025.
Women’s Aid’s frontline teams heard a record high of 62,275 disclosures last year, including 4,755 disclosures of abuse against children.
Over 1,500 of the incidents occurred while the woman was pregnant or newly postpartum.
Among the disclosures, there were 1,321 threats by abusers to kill women, children, family members or to self-harm, 670 threats to have children taken from mothers and 381 disclosures of rape.
The vast majority of people who contacted Women’s Aid in 2025 were abused by a current or former partner.
The charity says the 85% figure confirms that, for many victims and survivors, “ending the relationship does not end the abuse”.
Women’s Aid also heard 512 disclosures of non-fatal strangulation against women and 906 situations of stalking, both online and offline.
One in three women in Ireland suffer physical, psychological or sexual abuse from an intimate partner.
Sarah Benson, the chief executive of Women’s Aid, said the figures are “utterly appalling”, but “just the tip of the iceberg”.
“The level of demand for Women’s Aid services during 2025 remained both unprecedented and deeply concerning,” she said.
“Behind every contact and disclosure is a woman or child navigating fear, coercion and harm, often within situations of profound complexity.”
The housing crisis, delays within the legal system, limited or no access to legal aid, and the ongoing cost-of-living pressures all intersect with domestic violence and can “limit options for women seeking safety”, the charity said.
“For many, leaving an abusive relationship remains fraught with risk and uncertainty,” Benson said.
She said the government should take into account the pervasiveness of gender-based violence when writing policy and allocating resources.
If you have been affected by any issues raised within this article, support is available here:
- Women’s Aid 24-hour National Freephone helpline 1800 341 900
- National Male Advice Line 1800 816 588