Madam, - Mary T. Cleary of Amen writes (February 28th) that Women's Aid "has always been a service exclusively for women". This is incorrect.
Women's Aid National Freephone Helpline is a service used predominantly by women as women are primarily the victims of domestic violence.
Men can and do use our service. In 2003, 3 per cent of calls to the helpline were from men. The majority of these were men seeking support for a woman they knew who was experiencing domestic violence.
Women's Aid policy is to treat all callers to our service with respect, and to provide support and information to the best of our capacity, which may include referral to an appropriate service. - Yours, etc.,
MARGARET MARTIN, Director, Women's Aid, Everton House, Old Cabra Road, Dublin 7.