Men's Aid has reported a 30% increase in demand on its domestic violence support services in 2021 compared to 2020.
The charity has reported disclosures of female partners biting, scratching, kicking, slapping and stabbing and men attending appointments with visible bruises, black eyes and stitches.
It also reports daily disclosures of coercive controlling behaviours; invisible abuse that family, neighbours, and work colleagues cannot see.
Emotional, psychological, verbal, and mental abuse were reported as the most harming and difficult to heal from, Men's Aid said.
The service says that even if legal orders are in place such as safety, protection or barring orders, there are no consequences for breaches, as judges have not to date put a female in prison for domestic violence / coercive control crimes.
Men ranging in age from 18 to 88 used the service in 2021, from all backgrounds, Men's Aid said.
It supported men of 25 nationalities in the first quarter of 2021.
Helplines to help you this Christmas
Men's Aid also said there was an increase of over 100% on child protection referrals to Tusla during 2021 compared to 2020.
Kathrina Bentley, CEO of Men's Aid, said despite the prevalence of violence against men in Ireland, they were very disappointed that no refuge accommodation was available to men, for fathers and children to flee abusive homes this Christmas.
"We are awaiting the final draft of the Accommodation Review and are hopeful it makes invisible men visible.
"We are also waiting on the third National Strategy document which is due out in March by the Department of Justice. This strategy will be addressing domestic violence for the next five years, including funding allocation, and it is imperative that it reflects reality with an equality, inclusion, victim centric approach," she said.
Men's Aid said on Wednesday this week, its first full day open since Christmas Eve, it had 17 calls to its helpline, and made one child protection referral to Tusla.
"We are heading into a difficult few weeks when we usually see an increase in men struggling with their mental health due to an abusive partner, family violence during Christmas," Ms Bentley added,
"To date our funding is less than 1% of the approx. €30m funding for women services, it's not about taking funding from women’s services who need more, but increasing the funding to be equal so we can respond with adequate service provisions."
Men's Aid Ireland
Supporting men experiencing domestic violence
01 554 3811
www.mensaid.ie
