The number of domestic violence cases sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions has increased by over two thirds this year.
Gardai sent 550 files to the DPP between January and May – compared to 327 in the same period in 2020.
31 of the cases were in Donegal.
The force was looking for direction on whether these cases could go to court.
Criminal barrister and Fine Gael senator, Barry Ward, says the numbers may not drop when Covid lockdowns end:
