3 days ago
Gardaí initiate 12 prosecutions for stalking in 19 months since it became an offence
Gardaí have initiated 12 prosecutions for the new offence of stalking since it was introduced, while 21,000 domestic abuse-related contacts have been made with the force so far this year.
It also said that six of the stalking prosecutions relate to domestic abuse.
The figures were released as part of Friday's so-called Go Purple Day, which is the Gardai's national domestic abuse awareness day. They say while there have been over 21,000 domestic abuse-related contacts this year, there were some 65,000 in total last year.
As well as the new stalking offence leading to prosecutions, the introduction of a specific offence for coercive control has seen 52 prosecutions since it was introduced in 2019.
The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 also saw the introduction of other new standalone offences for stalking, non-fatal strangulation, and non-fatal suffocation. Since the offence of non-fatal strangulation was introduced in November 2023, there have been 67 prosecutions, 58 relating to domestic abuse.
Gardai said researchers and law enforcement professionals have determined that 'non-fatal strangulation is a leading indicator of escalating violence in a relationship'. They said it is also a significant risk factor for homicide in women.
Gardai said:
Some may think that immense effort is required to strangle a person, when in fact strangulation can lead to death within 60 seconds.
Go Purple Day was initiated five years ago by a community policing garda Stacey Looby, who was working in Navan at the time, and who had recognised the impact pandemic restrictions were having on people living in fear.
She showed how gardaí and domestic abuse support services in Navan could support people to tell them that the restrictions of movement didn't apply to those fleeing domestic abuse.
To mark Go Purple Day from 2020 to today, members of the public as well as garda personnel nationwide have been encouraged to show their support by wearing something purple.
Gardaí say the most recent domestic abuse statistics 'demonstrate the issue of domestic abuse is still extremely significant in 2025'.
Detective Chief Superintendent from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, Colm Noonan, said: 'The number of people reaching out to An Garda Síochána is increasing, which we see as a positive reflection of the trust and confidence people have in us.
'(But) we also know there are hundreds of people who still can't make that call to their local garda station to let us know that they need help.
"If domestic abuse exists in a relationship or in a family, it will always be present. If there is no crisis incident it is not because all is well, it is because the victim has made themselves as compliant as possible.
"We know domestic abuse has a cruelty and a relentlessness to it. It destroys every part of a person's life. We want to reassure women, men and children that you are not alone and help is out there.'
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