COVID-19 Domestic Violence Country Updates: Ireland
Thursday, June 4, 2020 4:50 PM

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In Ireland, the Government and Garda (the Irish police force) have stated that reports of domestic violence are up 20%, while other types of crimes, including sexual violence, have decreased. Advocates in Ireland have indicated that due to a shortage in available beds in domestic violence shelters, they have had to turn women away who have been seeking refuge away from abusive homes during the lockdown. In early April, the Irish government denied a proposal from Safe Ireland, a coalition that supports domestic violence services, to provide access to emergency rent supplement women and children victims of domestic violence for the duration of the pandemic crisis.