New research has found that almost one in three couples who underwent family mediation had experienced domestic violence.
The research by Martin Long, of the Family Mediation Service, found that 30 per cent of the 114 couples studied over a 12-month period had experienced some form of domestic violence.
The male partner was the perpetrator in 42 per cent of cases.
The woman was responsible in 29 per cent of cases and the violence was mutual in the remainder.
In 38 per cent of cases involving domestic violence, the couples were referred for mediation by their solicitors.
A further 20 per cent came to mediation of their own accord while 17 per cent were referred by counsellors.
The findings were detailed by Mr Long at a conference in Dublin yesterday to mark the 21st anniversary of the mediation service.
This is a statutory agency which provides a free service for couples who have decided to separate but want to work out the details amicably.
It has worked with almost 15,000 couples in the past 21 years, helping them to negotiate the terms of their separation or divorce.
Mr Long found that 47 per cent of couples reached agreement about their separation, while 31 per cent failed to reach agreement.
About 5 per cent of couples decided to continue their relationship after mediation.
Polly Phillimore, mediation service manager, said that an average of 250 couples went through the agency each year in the first decade of operation.
Demand for the service increased greatly in the past 10 years, she said, with 1,494 couples availing of the service last year.
Ms Phillimore said the types of couples using the mediation service has changed dramatically in recent years and now included same sex couples, unmarried couples, couples of different nationalities and religions and people who became parents as a result of a one-night stand.
