263 women & 216 kids flee abuse in one day; SERVICES AT BREAKING POINT.Byline: PAT FLANAGAN John Patrick "Pat" Flanagan (born 1891 in Preston, Lancashire) was an English footballer. An inside forward, Flanagan played youth football for Stourbridge before joining Norwich City in 1908, before moving to Fulham in 1909. NEARLY 500 women and children sought refuge from domestic violence in just ONE day, shocking new figures reveal. Some 263 women and 216 youngsters went to support groups around the country for help. It is believed the recession has led to a huge upsurge in domestic violence and refuges are so full they are having to turn women away. Safe Ireland, the national network for women's domestic violence support services support services Psychology Non-health care-related ancillary services–eg, transportation, financial aid, support groups, homemaker services, respite services, and other services , conducted the survey on November 4 last year. It found that an average of 11 women and nine children looked for safety every hour. The figures also show that in just one day: 239 helpline helpline Noun a telephone line set aside for callers to contact an organization for help with a problem helpline n → teléfono de asistencia al público calls were received from women. 17 women and 15 children were admitted to refuges. 87 women and 113 children were already staying in one. 48 women and 63 children were living in temporary housing. Six women could not be accommodated Safe Ireland director, Sharon O'Halloran, claimed that domestic violence services were in crisis here. She reported that her organisation was seeing a huge increase in physical and financial abuse since the start of the recession. This is being put down to increased unemployment, mortwith gage problems or delays with social welfare payments. She said that more women are trapped in relationships because they can not find jobs or sell their homes. She said: "Services are being cut back all the time by this government. "But, services are stretched and cannot stretch anymore. At a time when we know we are dealing with the tip of the iceberg the Government is crippling crip·ple n. 1. A person or animal that is partially disabled or unable to use a limb or limbs: cannot race a horse that is a cripple. 2. A damaged or defective object or device. tr.v. our services." The census report, along a European study into refuges, will be launched in Dublin today. This was the first time that a national census was used to gauge demand on domestic violence support groups in Ireland. The findings will be compared with another national census on the same date next month. Safe Ireland's service development manager Dr Sarah Morton Sarah Morton is a playwright, actor, educator and activist and a native of Cleveland, Ohio. Selected Works
CAPTION(S): TERROR Unemployment blamed for rise in abuse |
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