High level of domestic violence identified in Cavan and Monaghan

3,077 cases were reported in the Constituency in 2023.

Domestic abuse cases in the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division are consistently the highest in the country, outside of Dublin. That’s according to local Aontú Cllr Sarah O’Reilly who is a candidate in the Cavan/Monaghan Constituency in the upcoming General Election.

She says her party uncovered “the appalling statistics” following a Parliamentary Question from her party leader, Deputy Peadar Tóibín. “It is deeply concerning that domestic abuse incidents are rapidly increasing in Cavan/Monaghan,” she continued before adding that 3,077 cases were reported last year, something she finds “absolutely shocking”.

“It is just marginally down on the previous year with 3,264 being reported, the highest in ten years. Cavan and Monaghan are two of nine counties without a refuge for victims of domestic violence and that is another damming statistic”.

Cllr O’Reilly went on to say that domestic violence is a heinous crime, and damages the entire family who live in fear. “It can often have lifelong repercussions and it is appalling that victims of domestic abuse in this constituency have to travel to Dundalk to avail of its refuge and sanctuary,” she added.

“It’s not just in the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division, which includes Louth, the number of reported domestic abuse incidents have increased from 14,264 in 2014 to a shocking 46, 539 countrywide 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. Behind every one of these figures, is a person being damaged, in what should be, the sanctuary of their own home. In the vast majority of cases, this abuse is being carried out against women.

“The truth is, Ireland is becoming a more dangerous place for women. I don’t believe for a second that the Government is tackling the causes of this abuse within society or providing the necessary support to those affected”.