Domestic abuse support needed all year round in Fermanagh and Omagh, say services

DOMESTIC abuse support services in the Fermanagh and Omagh area remain under sustained pressure year-round, not just during the festive season, according to new figures from police and frontline charities.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has revealed that during the two-week period covering Christmas and New Year - from December 20, 2025, to January 2, 2026 - officers across Northern Ireland received 1,407 domestic abuse-related calls. This represents a rise from the 1,290 calls recorded during the same period in 2024-25.

On average, police receive around 84 domestic abuse calls per day across Northern Ireland, but that figure rises to more than 100 calls a day during the Christmas period.

Kerrie Flood, interim chief executive of Women’s Aid Fermanagh, which also provides services across Omagh and the wider district, said the figures underline both the scale of the issue and the importance of accessible support beyond seasonal campaigns.

“During the Christmas period - covering the same dates - there were seven referrals to Women’s Aid services across Fermanagh and Omagh, in Enniskillen and Omagh,” she said. “However, calls to the PSNI are emergency calls. These are situations where an incident has escalated to the point that a woman needs immediate protection.”

Ms Flood explained that while police figures capture moments of crisis, they do not reflect the full picture of domestic abuse in local communities.

“In Women’s Aid, we talk about two types of escape,” she said. “There is the emergency escape, which leads to high numbers of PSNI calls or admissions to emergency refuge accommodation. But there is also the planned escape, often following yet another harrowing Christmas.”

She added that January typically brings a significant increase in demand for specialist support services, as women and children seek help when it is safer to do so.

“As a result, across the district, our numbers increase dramatically in January,” Ms Flood said. “In January 2025, we received five times the number of referrals recorded during the Christmas period. This highlights that women are consistently risk-assessing and safety-planning, coming to us when they can. We do not take that trust for granted.”

While the PSNI statistics for the festive period are stark, Women’s Aid acknowledged that recorded reports of domestic abuse decreased overall during 2024-25. Ms Flood said services were encouraged that survivors continued to come forward in high numbers over Christmas, reflecting growing awareness and confidence in support systems.

She also praised the role of the wider community, highlighting Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s “BeTheChange” campaign in the lead-up to Christmas.

“Our social media across Omagh and Fermanagh Women’s Aid has been full of kindness from the community,” she said. “It is clear that people locally share our vision of a future where women and children are safe.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Women’s Aid has reiterated its commitment to supporting survivors throughout the year.

“We want to reassure women and children that we are here until you are safe,” Ms Flood said. “Abuse is never acceptable, at Christmas or any other time of year.”

Anyone seeking support can contact Women’s Aid Fermanagh on 028 6632 8898 or Women’s Aid Omagh on 028 8224 1414.