Reports of domestic violence on the rise in Kilkenny

Incidents of reported domestic abuse have risen significantly over the past 12 months according to the latest garda figures.

At this Monday’s meeting of the Joint Policing Committee Superintendent Aidan Brennan outlined how there were 330 domestic incidents reported to gardaí in Kilkenny from January 1 to December 31 compared to 266 incidents in 2022.

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“Violence in the home is always of concern. We have a very strong policy in relation to domestic incidents and we are pro arrest and pro charge and we encourage the use of court orders. We also have a seven day callback policy and we would encourage people to come forward and not to be a silent victim,” he said.

Figures revealed at the meeting showed that the level of reported incidents of domestic violence have increased since 2019 when there were 164 reported incidents. This increased to 224 incidents in 2020 and to 241 in 2021.

Chief Superintendent Anthony Pettit said that there has been ‘a steady increase in recent years’.

“Some of that is due to Covid restrictions causing tensions and there has also been a significant increase in the reporting of this type of crime.”