Gardaí in Kerry received over 1,400 domestic abuse calls last year.
That’s according to figures provided to Ireland South MEP Kathleen Funchion in a parliamentary response.
In Kerry, Gardaí received 1,435 domestic abuse calls.
That’s a decrease of 11% when compared to the previous year; in 2023 there were 1,627 such calls in Kerry.
From 2020 to last the end of last year, there were over 7,000 domestic abuse calls made to Gardaí in Kerry.
Nationally last year, there were 65,200 (65,224) calls made to the Gardaí across the State; this represents a 9% rise from the previous year.
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion says we can’t turn a blind eye to the issue and she is calling on the Government to prioritise the issue and recognise it as a crisis.
She says as violence against women continues to rise, that women deserve to feel safe in every space they enter.
MEP Funchion says we need stronger legislation, stricter enforcement, and robust regulations to ensure that offenders are held fully accountable for their actions.
Earlier this year, Kathleen Funchion’s former partner was jailed for offences under the Harassment and Harmful Communications Act, which is also known as Coco’s Law.
Anyone seeking help, can contact the Kerry Women's Refuge and Support Service 066 712 9100 or more information is available here.
