Mullingar Gardaí reach out on Go Purple Day

The Mullingar Community Policing Unit coordinated a number of events across Mullingar to mark Go Purple Day, the national domestic violence awareness day organised by An Garda Síochána

Garda Martina Walsh and Garda Fiona Walsh engaged with the public, talking to them, handing out literature and offering advice on domestic violence awareness on a day run in conjunction with local refuges and support services.

“Today is Go Purple Day,” Garda Martina Walsh told the Examiner on Friday, “It's a national day across Ireland to highlight the support services that are available to people who find themselves suffering from domestic abuse or are in domestic abuse situations.”

There is a significant Westmeath connection with the initiative. It was first organised in 2020 by community garda Stacey Looby, who was stationed at Navan Garda Station in Meath at the time but is now based in Athlone.

The aim is to strengthen community partnerships between domestic abuse services and gardaí: “Each county has their own local support services for victims of domestic abuse to touch base with them if they need to get out of certain domestic situations. They assist with applying to the courts for barring orders, safety orders, protection orders, things like that, or just for general advice on keeping safe within a domestic situation.”

Garda Walsh said Go Purple Day has brought the services to wider public notice: “It's in almost every county around Ireland. We have a particularly great service here called Westmeath Support Services. We refer anyone who comes to the Garda station in a difficult situation. They get advice and assistance to navigate the court process with regards to domestic orders.”

The day is for all victim of domestic violence, with Gardaí advising the public to reach out for advice and support: “There is the National Domestic Abuse, Men's Aid, The Rape Crisis Centre, and lots of other services. We also have a low-cost counselling service.”

Garda Walsh highlighted the Women's Project on Bishopgate Street which supports and gives counselling to survivors or victims of domestic abuse.

The Mullingar Community Policing Unit hosted three Go Purple Day events, all well received by the general public: “There has been great interaction. Throughout the day, people have been coming up enquiring about what we are offering. When we explain that we're just highlighting the services available, they are all very supportive.”

Those interactions can bring valuable information into the hands of someone who needs it: “People have said, “I might take a few leaflets, I'll put them in my own work canteen or bring them to a workplace, or I'm holding my own event,” . This is what Go Purple Day is all about.

“Whether they may be in a situation themselves, or had a friend or a family member, a daughter or granddaughter, even a male friend, the day shows them what to do or where to reach out.”

Garda Walsh said the message of Go Purple Day is simple: “Don't suffer in silence, get more information, see how you can get help if you're in a situation of domestic abuse. We also have a female refuge here in Mullingar, which is a great facility to have for people who need to seek refuge in an emergency situation.”