More than 2,000 women and 500 children a month received support from a domestic violence service between September and December last year.

The figures, from Safe Ireland's second 'Shadow Pandemic' report, show a slight increase on the previous six months.

Demand peaked in November, when almost 2,200 women and over 600 children received help and there were 6,400 calls to its helpline.

Edel Hackett from Safe Ireland says a large number of women and children made contact for the first time:

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