When Ireland was at its height of Level 5 lockdown last November, Safe Ireland, the national agency working with domestic violence services recorded its busiest period.
Over 2,180 women and 602 children in Sligo, Leitrim and across the country received support from a dedicated domestic violence service from September to December last year, figures which, Carmel McNamee, Manager of Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS) in Sligo/Leitrim and West Cavan, describes as shocking .
Ms McNamee spoke to The Sligo Champion following the release of Safe Ireland s latest report, Tracking the Shadow Pandemic - Lockdown 2.
The report looked at the demand on 39 frontline domestic violence services, including DVAS.