Image/MCC/ Image of the three contributors for this episode from L to R: Claudia Hegarty, Project Leader of ‘Zero Tolerance Meath’, Frances Haworth, CEO Willow Domestic Abuse Services, Meath Community Safety Partnership Co-ordinator at Meath County Council Gemma Ryan.
Local Lens domestic abuse Meath is the focus of the latest episode of Meath County Council’s podcast, bringing together local organisations to discuss prevention, support, and community safety.
The episode, Community Safety in Action: Working Together to Address Domestic Abuse in Meath, features representatives from the Meath Local Community Safety Partnership and Willow Domestic Abuse Services.
It comes as Meath County Council prepares to sponsor an inter-agency conference in Navan on responding to the risk of domestic homicide, with Willow Domestic Abuse Services, formerly Meath Women’s Refuge & Support Services, acting as lead host.
Community safety starts at home
Meath Local Community Safety Partnership Coordinator Gemma Ryan discusses the partnership’s aim of creating a county where people feel safe, connected and involved.
She said that vision cannot be achieved if people are experiencing domestic, sexual or gender-based violence or feel unable to access the help they need.
“This cannot be achieved if individuals or families are experiencing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence or if victims or survivors feel isolated, unsupported or unable to access services they need.”
The Meath Local Community Safety Partnership brings together representatives from Meath County Council, An Garda Síochána, community organisations, and statutory agencies including Tusla and the HSE. Its role includes identifying local safety priorities and developing a coordinated community safety plan for the county.
‘If you’re not safe in your home, you can’t be safe in your community’
The Local Lens domestic abuse Meath episode also looks at the importance of collaboration between statutory agencies, specialist services, and the wider community.
Frances Haworth, CEO of Willow Domestic Abuse Services, also features in the episode and discusses the importance of collaboration between organisations.
“Domestic violence cuts to the core of community safety because if you’re not safe in your home, you can’t be safe in your community. We know there is a high level of domestic abuse in Ireland, and we see the trauma that people experience.
“We’re really happy to be hosting this conference; I think it shows what a strong and cohesive response there is here in the county. I think Meath County Council have been a really strong lead partner in helping us bring this conference about.”
The need for domestic abuse services remains significant nationally. Women’s Aid recorded 62,275 disclosures of abuse against women and children during 2025, an increase of 33% on the previous year.
Prevention is everyone’s responsibility
Claudia Hegarty, Project Leader with Zero Tolerance Meath, also joins the discussion.
Zero Tolerance Meath is a Willow initiative focused on preventing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence through community involvement.
“It is a community mobilisation project focusing on the prevention of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence,” Claudia said.
“At the heart of the project it is the idea that prevention isn’t solely the responsibility of specialist services. This means that everyone can be part of that prevention – regardless of their background, their profession, or their experience.
“It simply is building your own understanding of domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence, challenging harmful attitudes or language when we hear it or knowing how to respond if somebody reaches out to us for support.”
Meath County Council has previously highlighted its work with Willow as part of the Local Community Safety Partnership’s focus on domestic abuse prevention and early intervention.
Community Safety in Action: Working Together to Address Domestic Abuse in Meath is available through Local Lens wherever podcasts are available.
Local Lens is presented by Elaine Keogh, with Ailish Shaw as Executive Producer.
