For every woman victim of domestic violence, there are, typically, two children also affected, while domestic violence spans all social and economic groups, a new report to be published today says. According to the report from the Cork Domestic Violence Project, 79 per cent of abusive men are in full-time employment, which is contrary to the popular belief that violence against women is more prevalent among disadvantaged groups.
The project group was established by the Diocese of Cork and Ross six years ago and, according to the diocesan communications officer, Father Tom Hayes, it has found that the number of men coming for treatment is increasing.
In the first year of operation some 47 men contacted the project. Last year, however, 157 men came forward to seek help, said Father Hayes, adding that the project grew out of the Diocese's Marriage Counselling Centre.
The 60-page report, which is based on interviews with those availing of the project, found that physical, sexual and psychological abuse were among the main causes of marital difficulties.
The survey also found that 77 per cent of the 180 women who contacted the project found it had a lasting positive effect, 41 per cent reported it had a lasting positive effect on their partners, with 36 per cent reported a temporary positive effect.
Father Hayes explained that there was still a widespread reluctance to tackle the problem of domestic violence, with many women mistakenly believing they were in some way to blame for the abusive behaviour of their partner.
"Society as a whole tends to want to keep this issue underground," he said.
"There are still huge social taboos around it. The women who are involved in relationships where there is violence are not going to talk about it at a coffee morning."
