RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Over 3,862 domestic abuse calls were received by An Garda Síochána in the Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow region in 2024, a major increase of 13.8% from 2023.
According to these new figures released by An Garda Síochána, Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow had the most calls recorded in Ireland South.
This increase in the region is on par with the rise in domestic violence calls made to gardaí across the country last year, as 65,224 calls were made in total which was a 9% rise from the previous year.
In addition to this, Waterford/Kilkenny/Carlow also had 2,858 reported domestic abuse incidents last year, in comparison to 2,486 the year previous.
Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion, has urged the government to allocate greater resources to domestic and gender-based violence services following the release of the figures.
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MEP Funchion said: "We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this issue. More and more individuals, women in particular, now have to choose between homelessness and a place that is no longer safe.
"Women’s Aid say that at least 1 in 4 women in Ireland are subjected to some form of abuse from a current or former partner.
"This is not just a private matter but a public issue that requires a multifaceted approach to reduce its prevalence and ensure that every individual who makes that phone call receives the support they deserve."
She added: "Violence against women continues to rise, yet there remains no clear and effective response from the government to address their issues at their root.
"Women deserve better. Women deserve to feel safe in every space they enter. We need stronger legislation, stricter enforcement, and robust regulations to ensure that offenders are held fully accountable for their actions.
"The government and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan must prioritise this and recognise this for what it is - a crisis."
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