Fermanagh Women's Aid reveal how many women they've helped in 2022/3

In wake of the island-wide discussion on domestic abuse following a viral social media post by Nicola Gallagher and subsequent media coverage where she made serious allegations against her husband, Rory Gallagher, from whom she is now separated, FWA have shed light on the shocking number of women and children their service has helped in 2022/23.

In total, the charity supported 392 women from April, 2022 to March 2023; in addition, the charity also supported 287 children.

For the same time period in 2021/22, the charity supported 390 women.

A spokesperson for FWA said: “In Fermanagh in the year 2022/23 alone, Women’s Aid supported 392 women and 287 children through community support and emergency accommodation services.

“Nine women and four children stayed in our refuge, while we had to turn away 21 women and 12 children as our refuge was full.”

Addressing the wider work of FWA, the spokesperson said: “In that time, we trained our community on responding to and tackling myths around domestic abuse, and will continue to do so.

“We hosted UK- and Ireland-wide experts on International Women’s Day at our conference, ‘Where the Blame lies’.”

As part of their statement to the media, FWA also addressed some of the facts of domestic abuse and what it is.

“Domestic abuse involves the abuse of power and control by one person over another and can occur within intimate relationships or familiar relationships. It typically escalates in frequency and severity over time.

“Domestic abuse remains a hidden crime, surrounded by stigma and significantly under-reported. Every 16 minutes, the PSNI respond to a domestic abuse incident, and in Northern Ireland, domestic abuse comprises approximately a fifth of all crime.

“Women’s aid groups right across Northern Ireland are working every day to support women and their children who have been subjected to domestic and sexual abuse.”

392 women sought help from Fermanagh Women's Aid in 2022/3.

The spokesperson emphasised that the charity is there for those who need help. “Every day of every year, Women’s Aid listen, we support, and we believe. For any woman who has been subjected to this horrendous crime, we see you, we hear you and we will act with you.”

Thanking locals for supporting FWA, the spokesperson said: “We want to thank the Fermanagh community for their continued support of the specialist work we do.

“There is much that remains to be done in supporting each woman and child.

“There is much that remains to be done in challenging the beliefs and systems that fail to challenge domestic abuse when we see it.”

If you need help or support, Fermanagh Women’s Aid can be contacted at 0286 632 8898. The Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline managed by Nexus NI is open to women and men affected by domestic abuse or violence. This free telephone service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at 0808 802 1414, or email help@dsahelpline.org.

If you are in immediate danger, contact 999; the PSNI are avaliable in non-emergency situations via 101.