Women's Aid has welcomed new "groundbreaking" statistics by Gardaí showing figures of domestic abuse and gender-based violence specifically.

The report shows that domestic abuse primarily affects females – 77% of domestic cases are women, while 23% are men.

CEO of Women's Aid Sarah Benson told Newstalk that the organisation commends An Garda Síochána for the new data collection system which highlights the sex of perpetrators and victims.

"The findings of research really validate what Women's Aid has been for many, many years and what is also supported by both domestic and international research", she said.

"There are differences between how men and women are subjected to different crimes."

"They are more likely to know the person who is perpetrating a crime against them."

The report shows that the number of murders recorded in Ireland is falling – but for the first time on record, the majority of murders (52%) last year were motivated by domestic abuse.

"The residential setting is the most common setting for women. They are more likely to know the person who is perpetrating a crime against them", Ms Benson explained.

"The most common person for women will be your current or former partner."

Increased reporting

There was also an almost 400% increase in domestic abuse motivations for crimes recorded between 2020 and 2021.

This includes homicide, sexual violence, attempts or threats to murder and harassment.

Gardaí have explained that the high figures may be influenced by an increased likelihood of women reporting such crimes.

Ms Benson said: "We understand that the increases that are noted in some cases, particularly with relation to domestic violence, can be attributed to a combination of better data collection, and actually recognising that certain clients or certain reports are in the context of domestic violence."

"That work is going to benefit not just women and children, but also men and boys."

She believes that increased reporting is due to victims being brave enough to reach out and Gardaí "feeling more confident" in providing support.

"We ourselves have also seen an increase in context with our services in recent years", she added.

According to Benson, the work society does as a whole will help protect everyone in the long-run.

"What's really striking in this kind of groundbreaking data today is that the vast majority of perpetrators of these crimes against not just women, but also men, are men."

"The work that we do to create a more gender equal society, to try and target kind of negative stereotypes of masculinity and advocate for a more equal, more open, more understanding and respectful society, that work is going to benefit not just, you know, women and children, but also men and boys."

Main image shows a woman looking out a window through a blind. Picture by: Tim Goode/EMPICS Entertainment