Support Services

There are a range of support services available to victims of domestic violence.

Click here for information on Domestic Violence Legal Supports during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Women's Aid

Women’s Aid provides a safe, confidential and non-judgemental support service to women experiencing domestic violence, including emotional or physical abuse. Concerned family members, friends or professionals may also contact the service. Following initial contact via the 24/7 freephone helpline (1800 341 900), women may be referred to the following services:

• One to One Support Service
• Court Accompaniment Service
• Local Domestic Violence Refugees and Support Services
• Legal Aid
• Other Relevant Agencies

Further information about the helpline service is available here https://www.womensaid.ie/services/helpline.html, including information and advice on making the first call, available support, practical issues, and the Language Line facility if you are a non-English speaker. Information on the new Instant Messaging Support Service https://www.womensaid.ie/services/helpline/instant-messaging-support-service.html is also provided.

The One to One Support Service (https://www.womensaid.ie/services/onetoone.html) provides face to face support and information. Bookings can be made via the national freephone helpline. A free and confidential drop-in service is also available for women experiencing domestic abuse at Dolphin House Family Law Court https://www.womensaid.ie/services/dais.html.

Contact Details:

• Helpline: 1800 341 900
• Text Service for Deaf and Hard of Hearing women available daily on 087 959 7980.
• Online chat service available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7pm – 10pm at www.womensaid.ie/
• Email: helpline@womensaid.ie
• Website: www.womensaid.ie

Safe Ireland

Safe Ireland is the national support service for domestic violence, providing free and confidential services to women. There are 38 domestic violence support services located across Ireland. Further information is available on the Safe Ireland website https://www.safeireland.ie/get-help/what-types-of-support-are-available/#toggle-id-4 about support services for women experiencing domestic abuse, including domestic violence support services, refuge, the helpline, one-to-one support and court accompaniment.

If you need immediate support, please contact the National 24-hour Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 or the local 24-hour helplines, details of which are available at the following link: https://www.safeireland.ie/get-help/where-to-find-help/.

Contact Details:

• Telephone: 090 6479078
• Email: info@safeireland.ie
• Website: www.safeireland.ie

Rape Crisis Network Ireland

The 16 Rape Crisis Centres across Ireland provide crisis counselling and support services to male and female victims of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and childhood sexual abuse.

The 24-hour freephone helpline (1800 77 8888) provides a confidential support service to victims of sexual violence, including information, advice and telephone counselling.

If you require crisis support, including information, advice and telephone counselling, contact your local centre (details of which are available on RapeCrisisHelp.ie) or contact the 24-Hour Freephone Rape Crisis Helpline - 1800 77 88 88.

The Cork Sexual Violence Centre can be contacted via helpline 1800 496 496, text service 087 153 3393 or via social media.

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) provides crisis counselling and support services to male and female victims of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and childhood sexual abuse. DRCC can be contacted via the national helpline. Further information is available on the DRCC website: www.drcc.ie

Contact Details:

• Helpline: 1800 77 8888
• Website: www.rapecrisishelp.ie

Sonas

Sonas Refuge Dublin provides a 24/7 crisis refuge service for women experiencing domestic violence. Support is generally provided for up to 12 weeks, with an individualised support plan developed and accommodation provided in self-contained apartments. Additional supports are also available, including the Sonas Outreach programme.

Further information on the support services available can be found here http://www.domesticabuse.ie/our-services/refuge-blanchardstown/.

Contact Details:

• Telephone: 24 Hour Refuge: 01 866 2015
• Advice Line: 087 952 5217
• Website: www.domesticabuse.ie
• Email: refuge@sonasdomesticabuse.ie

Men’s Aid Ireland and the Men’s Development Network

Men’s Aid Ireland supports men and their families experiencing domestic violence. 

National confidential helpline (01-5543811)

Opening Hours: 

Monday-Friday: 09:00AM - 17:00PM

Services available include:

• Legal information clinic
• One to one practical support
• Counselling services (face to face and via telephone)
• Court accompaniment services
• Outreach clinics

Contact Details:

• Helpline: 01-5543811
• Email: hello@mensaid.ie
• Website: www.mensaid.ie

The Men’s Development Network works with men on a variety of levels, including one-to-one support, counselling, behaviour change group work, parenting support, and awareness raising.

The Male Advice Line (1800 816 588) provides advice and support for male victims of domestic violence.

Opening Hours:

Monday and Wednesday: 10:00AM - 18:00PM

Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00PM - 20:00PM

Friday,Saturday and Sunday: 14:00PM - 18:00PM

A range of programmes are available including:

• MEND Domestic Violence Intervention Programme
• Counselling Programme
• Men’s Health Programme
• Men’s Development Programme
• Parent Support Programme

Further information on these programmes is available here https://mensnetwork.ie/about/.

Contact Details:

• Telephone: 051-844260/1
• Male Advice Line: 1800 816 588
• Email: men@mensnetwork.ie
• Website: www.mensnetwork.ie

MOVE Ireland – Men Overcoming Violence

Move Ireland provides domestic violence perpetrator intervention programmes.

Male perpetrators of domestic abuse are supported through a behaviour-change intervention programme, where they take responsibility for their harmful behaviour, develop new skills, and change both their attitude and behaviour. Female partners/ex-partners are also supported during and after the process.

Further information is available at www.moveireland.ie.

Contact Details:

• Telephone:
• MOVE CORK - 086 6044047
• MOVE GALWAY, SLIGO, MIDLANDS (ATHLONE)- 085 8748108
• MOVE DUBLIN, MEATH, TALLAGHT, SWORDS - 086 4149591
• MOVE LIMERICK/CLARE, NORTH TIPPERARY, KERRY - 086 4149613
• Email: move@moveireland.ie
• Website: www.moveireland.ie

An Garda Síochána

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or 112. 

If you are not in immediate danger and you require support and advice, you can visit your local Garda Station (https://www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/station-directory/).

For further information, see www.garda.ie

Bright Sky Ireland App

The Bright Sky Ireland app is a free mobile app available on Google Play and Apple App Store. It is an app disguised as a weather app on the outside, but the contents hidden inside of the app, connects victims of domestic and sexual abuse to advice support services in Ireland. It also provides a journal to record incidents of abuse by text, video, voice recording or photography. It was developed in collaboration with An Garda Síochána, Women’s Aid and Vodafone.

OSS Cork

OSS Cork is a one-stop shop that provides information and services to men and women on a wide range of issues including legal, financial, and housing. It is an inter-agency approach to the area of domestic violence and provides a free, confidential service that includes:

• Information (legal)
• Support
• Referral
• Advocacy
• Accompaniment

The service of the OSS is open to both men and women of all nationalities, sexual orientation, married/cohabiting couples, or single people and is offered through:

• One to one sessions via appointment or walk-in
• Telephone helpline (1800 497 497)

In terms of legal information, the OSS Cork can provide clients with factual information on available domestic violence remedies, and where and how to apply for them. However, while this information can be provided, the OSS does not provide legal advice and must, in such cases, refer clients to a solicitor. 

Another invaluable service provided by OSS is accompaniment for victims to Garda stations, Court proceedings, medical or GP offices etc. This is particularly vital for people or clients who may be experiencing intimidation, low self-esteem or language difficulties. Professional accompaniment can help clients to follow through with legal procedures, knowing they are not alone throughout proceedings.

Contact Details:

• Helpline: 1800 497 497
• E-mail: osscork@gmail.com
• Website: www.osscork.com

Contacts