Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid has launched consultation events to shape prevention programmes on healthy relationships. The organisation receives hundreds of referrals yearly, including from children and young people in homes with abuse.

Police recorded 1,586 domestic abuse incidents in Fermanagh and Omagh in 2024. Of those, 795 were classified as crimes. Rural areas in the district have seen domestic homicides despite the small population.

Across Northern Ireland, police noted 30,793 domestic abuse incidents in 2025, with over 18,000 classified as crimes. Domestic abuse accounts for nearly one in five crimes region-wide, with women comprising about two-thirds of victims.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council supports community prevention efforts. The Western Trust health services act as a first contact point for abuse cases. Frontline groups like Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid provide assistance from initial questioning to crisis response.

Rural isolation hinders access to services due to distance, transport limits and community visibility. Sectarian divisions affect service access by creating boundaries tied to place. Women from minority ethnic groups face added barriers from language, immigration status and economic factors.

Prevention efforts target harmful attitudes and early intervention. Consultations invite individuals and organisations to register via Eventbrite. Contact Fermanagh and Omagh Women’s Aid at 028 8224 4155 for confidential support.