Ana Doyle

Finishing up my fundraising

This February has certainly been an active one! I’m hoping to finish up my challenge today with a final 7km, to round up my original goal of 80km to 100km:)) I’ve been blown away by the support so far and am extremely grateful for everyone’s generosity. 

Being a woman, especially while living abroad, involves a lot of vigilance with regard to personal safety and the safety of friends. Checking to make sure friends are home safe, sharing locations and being ‘on-call’ while friends are on dates, positioning oneself carefully so that male friends stand between you and ‘handsy’ men on a dance floor, and taking extra efforts when travelling to avoid quiet/ risky areas (I famously, exclusively cycle when travelling at night, as I’d rather deal with a potentially dangerous car on the road than a potentially dangerous man on foot) are just a fraction of the efforts we subconsciously make every day. 

I’m sure none of these measures are new or surprising to anyone reading, which is why I find it so upsetting how normalised the constant presence of the threat of male violence is in women’s lives. 

What makes this reality is even more tragic is that women are significantly more likely to be victims of violence at the hands of a partner or family member than a stranger (WHO research linked below). Women are expected to take these measures (and often criticised if they do not) to avoid the anonymous violent boogeyman on their walk home, when the real threat is more likely to be waiting there for them. 

Over 1/4 of women aged 15-49 years who have been in a relationship have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a partner (WHO) and over the past 20 years, progress to reduce intimate partner violence has only had a 0.2% annual decline (UNWomen article linked below). 

Women’s Aid’s work is crucial not only to the support of victims of intimate partner violence, but also in the fight to reduce intimate partner violence. I encourage everyone to read about their ‘Too Into You’ campaign which focuses on teaching young people, particularly women aged 18-25 on the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. The information they share about identifying abuse, both in one’s own relationship or one of a friend or relative, and how they encouragingly explain the process of getting help is an incredibly important part of their wider provision of practical help (such as refuge and legal aid). 

I urge everyone to familiarise themselves with this research, and to always be aware of the signs, or ‘red flags’, of abusive, controlling and violent behaviour. 

I also encourage everyone to watch ‘The Maid’ on Netflix which depicts the struggle of a young mother at the hands of her abusive partner in a very well-made miniseries. 

Finally, if you haven’t donated to Women’s Aid yet, now is your chance! You’re already here…. If you have €2 or €5 to spare, every little bit helps :))

Thank you again to everyone for your support, 

Ana 💜

WHO research: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women

UNWomen article: https://www.unwomen.org/en/articles/facts-and-figures/facts-and-figures-ending-violence-against-women

Too Into You campaign: https://www.womensaid.ie/get-informed/campaigns-and-partnerships/too-into-you-campaign/ 

What is domestic abuse?:https://womensaid.org.uk/information-support/what-is-domestic-abuse/ 

My running motivation this week

I was particularly motivated on my first week of this running challenge after I watched a clip from an interview with Margaret Loftus and Sarah Benson on Ireland AM last week. In the interview Loftus speaks about her experience of domestic abuse at the hands of her ex husband while both of them were members of the Gardaí (Irish police). 

There are many elements of her experience that highlight the brutality of domestic abuse: the attitude of abusers; Loftus protecting their children at the risk of her own safety; the impact the experience had on her family, the reaction of her colleagues, the length of time between her initial report and charges being brought; and her acknowledgment of victims who do not speak out.

All of these aspects, and many more, are indicative of the systematic and socialised violence faced by victims. However, what particularly stood out to me was that this man was able to traumatise in two major ways. 

Not only in the episodes of physical and emotional abuse, but then through the trauma that followed at the hands of the legal system and society. Loftus is quoted in an RTE Article describing this process as “as traumatising and damaging as the abuse”. 

Loftus acknowledges victims of abuse who do not report abuse out of fear for their lives. However, even when this is not the case, the prospect of victims reporting abuse can be terrifying. The tormenting inaction of authorities, social isolation, workplace discrimination, and the financial troubles that often accompany leaving one’s home and legal proceedings can each be enough to deter someone from seeking help. Furthermore, the possibility of enduring all of this only for the abuser to face little or no meaningful consequence reinforces this fear and hesitation.

In Loftus’s case, following her initial report, her abuse continued for years, while her abuser was promoted within the Gardaí- the very organisation who were supposed to be investigating his criminal behaviour. Four weeks ago, 13 years after the attack discussed in the interview, her abuser received a mere three month suspended sentence for the assault.

I am fundraising for Women’s Aid because they support victims of domestic abuse throughout this entire traumatising process. They not only help those in immediate danger providing transport, refuge, and financial support but they offer legal support during the long, difficult process that follows a victim’s initial call for help.

They also carry out research, provide information on domestic abuse, and campaign for legal, systematic change in Ireland.

Their heroic work, supported by our financial support and allyship, helps work towards an equal Ireland with zero tolerance of domestic abuse and violence against women. 

*please note that this blog post reflects my personal opinion. I am not trying to educate others, or provide new information or insights. This was only my genuine reaction to the clip linked below and one of my motivations for participating in this fundraiser.*

Interview with Ireland AM: https://youtu.be/VqvDygISEow?si=6V0x4QJEpML1oHv- 

Article discussing Loftus and her case: https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2026/0120/1554161-margaret-loftus/