At the Market Square on Friday for Go Purple Day were (from left) Gda Paul Martin, Community Policing; Olivier Fauzou, volunteer; Jennifer Alcindor, administrator and public advocate, Westmeath Support Service against Domestic Abuse; Sgt Brian Stone, Community Policing; Ann Foley, manager, Westmeath Support Service against Domestic Abuse; Gda Neil Donellan, Community Policing; and Gda Martina Walsh, Community Policing.

Go Purple Day in Mullingar

The Mullingar Community Policing Unit are on the streets of the town today, with members and volunteers from Westmeath Support Service, for Go Purple Day.

Go Purple is a national campaign that asks people to wear something purple for the day to show solidarity with victims of domestic violence and those organisations offering support.

The colour purple is associated with strength, nobility, creativity, wisdom, dignity, peace, love, and independence.

Sgt Brian Stone, Mullingar Community Policing, at the Market Square this afternoon, explained the background to the campaign.

“Garda Stacey Looby, now Community Policing in Athlone, was in Navan, where she attended an incident of domestic violence about four years ago at Christmas time. She spoke to a child who asked her if Santa Claus would come, and was really upset – that affected Stacy and she wanted to do something to help people who are going through domestic violence or are in situations of domestic abuse.

“She set up Go Purple Day, which started small and was about giving out information on the services available and handing out purple armbands, and each year it has got bigger and each garda district has taken it on, and now it’s national.

“It’s such an important event, we’re dealing with a huge number of domestic violence incidents, the figures are staggering, it’s 30,000 annually, or about 500 to 600 domestic abuse calls weekly. One in seven men is experiencing domestic abuse, but the figure is worse, unfortunately, for women, at one in three.

“It can take a lady as many as 34 incidents of domestic abuse before they call for help, so we’re trying to raise awareness to get the word out that we are here to help.”

Sgt Stone said the gardaí define domestic abuse as emotional, physical, sexual, financial and psychological abuse. He added: “We want to put it out there that the garda are here to help. Westmeath Support Service against Domestic Abuse are brilliant here in Mullingar. We rely on them a huge amount and the people of Mullingar really benefit their services.

“We would ask anyone that’s suffering from domestic abuse, or if they know anyone that’s suffering from domestic abuse, to get in touch with the garda, ring 999 and the garda confidential line is there as well.”

Also present on the Market Square today is Ann Foley, manager of Westmeath Support Service, which she founded in 2000, because she went through domestic abuse and at that time there was no service in Mullingar.

Ms Foley said: “The increased awareness is fantastic, and the gardaí, in the last few years in particular, have taken it really seriously. Covid played a part in the increased awareness – there was a lot of talk about it during the pandemic – but our problem is we don’t have enough staff, it’s always about funding.”

The service is currently funded by Tusla, and from next year will be funded by the Dept of Justice, “which I think is a good thing”, said Ann.

She added: “Domestic abuse has always been there, but what has happened is that there is more awareness of it and people are coming forward more. We have certainly got busier, and that is because of the awareness, and it’s not just now being left to the support services, there’s a wider focus.”