Gallery: Donegal Gardai 'Go Purple Day' to raise awareness about domestic abuse

Ballyshannon and Letterkenny Garda stations were just some of the locations across the county which hosted a 'Go Purple' coffee morning on Friday.

The ’Go Purple Day’ is to help raise awareness about domestic abuse and the local domestic abuse support services available to those affected in Donegal and across Ireland.

Lifeline Inishowen hosted a coffee morning in association with An Garda Síochána and Safe Ireland at Wesley Hall, Carndonagh.

Gardaí hosted a coffee morning at Letterkenny Garda Station and issued a "big thank you to everybody who called in to show their support". MEP Maria Walsh also dropped into Letterkenny to show her support on the day.  

In Ballyshannon, the event was attended by members of the local fire services, Foróige, RNLI, retired members from An Garda Síochána, representatives from the Donegal Women in Business Network, and various other community groups.
Attendees enjoyed a cuppa with home baking that was kindly donated and lots of other tasty treats.
Everyone who attended left wearing purple ribbons to highlight domestic violence awareness.

The initiative was first organised in 2020 by Community Garda, Stacey Looby from Athlone Garda Station to help strengthen community partnerships between domestic abuse services and An Garda Síochána, and it is now a national day of awareness about domestic abuse.

Members of the public as well as Garda personnel nationwide also showed their support on Friday by simply wearing, drawing or baking something purple. The most important thing is to help spread the word about this important issue.

Support Services 

*Donegal Domestic Violence Services - DDVS – Call 1800262677 (Available 24/7) or Msg/WhatsApp 087-3812438. www.donegaldomesticviolenceservices.ie
*Donegal-Rape Crisis Centre - Freephone 1800 44 88 44 (providing support for anyone affected by sexual violence)
*Lifeline Inishowen Lifeline Inishowen – 074 9373232 – www.lvds.org
*Donegal Women's Centre - 074-9124985

In addition to this, members of the public can also avail of the following national services:
*Women's Aid – 1800341900 (24/7) – Instant message support service available at www.womensaid.ie
*Men's Aid Ireland – www.mensaid.ie (01) 5543811
*Crime Victims Helpline - 116 006 – www.crimevictimshelpline.ie
*RapeCrisis Network Ireland – 1800778888
*Garda Victim Services Office (Donegal) – 074 9551085

Link to Support Services that are available - https://www.garda.ie/!T8SOXY

Gardai urge anybody who is suffering as a result of domestic violence/abuse to contact them 24/7 at:
*Letterkenny 074-9167100
*Buncrana 074-9320540
*Ballyshannon 071-9858530
*Milford 074-9153060
Always call 999 or 112 in the case of an emergency.