London, June 14 (ANI): Thousands of kids are being emotionally, physically and sexually abused at home in Ireland, new statistics have revealed
And another 3,000 youngsters saw their mums threatened, beaten or raped.
Over 2,000 women who called a domestic violence help line claimed that their children also suffered at the hands of a perpetrator.
Director of Women's Aid Margaret Martin revealed that domestic violence remains a serious problem in Irish society.
She claimed that more than 11,000 calls reporting 13,000 incidents were made to the charity in 2011.
And she revealed that 44 per cent of those callers said that children were also directly abused or present during their abuse.
"Women have told us that their children were being hit, smacked, constantly shouted at, and in some cases, sexually abused. Many children will witness their mother being shouted at, threatened, physically assaulted and at times will see their mother being raped," the Sun quoted Martin as saying.
"Where they do not directly see the abuse occurring they may overhear abusive incidents, or will see the aftermath of it such as bruises, broken bones, damaged furniture and belongings."
Martin also revealed that thousands of women across Ireland are constantly terrified that their next attack will result in serious injury or death.
"In 2011, women disclosed that they were punched, slapped, kicked, held down and strangled and beaten with household items. Women told us they were constantly belittled, criticised, blamed and stalked and harassed via technology both during the relationship and after leaving," she said.
"Women reported that they had been raped, sexually assaulted and given no option but to comply with their abuser's sexual demands."
Shockingly it was found that an intimate male partner carried out the abuse in 74 per cent of cases. (ANI)
