Restrictions brought in to slow the spread of Covid-19 "very seriously exacerbated experiences" for those living with domestic abuse, according to the chief executive of Women's Aid.
There has been a 43% increase in responses by Women's Aid's 24-hour helpline between March and June, when compared to the same period last year.
Speaking on RTÉs Morning Ireland, Sarah Benson said calls reported physical abuse, very acute emotional coercive controlling abuse, economic abuse and sexual abuse.
She said the virus itself was also weaponised and women with underlying problems reported their partners coughing on them. While Women's Aid always hears of acute distress it escalated enormously during lockdown, she said.