Women’s Aid helplines remain open throughout Christmas

WOMEN’S Aid, the national frontline support service for women affected by domestic abuse, says many women and their children spend Christmas living in fear and walking on eggshells. The organisation’s 24hr National Freephone Helpline will be open all day every day during Christmas including the 25 th December.

For women who have left their abusive relationships, Christmas can be used by their exes to control and abuse them and their children by withholding maintenance, not honouring access arrangements and using presents as a bargaining chip. Christmas is a time of hurt, fear, intimidation, intentional cruelty for women with sudden flashes of violence and abuse directed at them and their children.

Linda Smith, Manager of the Women’s Aid Helpline says: “December and Christmas is a tough time for women and often the abuse they are suffering is more frequent and more severe with women disclosing that they have been assaulted, hospitalised, being ignored and being called the most horrible names.

“Just because it is the festive season, it doesn’t mean that physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse goes away. Wom- en tell us that their ex-partners are threatening to withhold finances and presents unless she does what he wants.

Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 www.womensaid.ie

Sligo Leitrim Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS) can be called on 071 91 41515 between 10.00am & 5.00pm Monday to Friday or infodvas@eircom.net.

More information is available on the website on domesticviolence.ie.

Details on volunteering can be found at www.WomensAid.ie/services/helpline/volunteer.