Talk to be held in Moate next week on coercive control in relationships

An information evening on the subject of 'coercive control within relationships' will take place at the Old Schoolhouse in Moate (Eircode: N37 R5P1) on Thursday next, December 7.

Deirdre Berry, Head of Services at Athlone's Esker House Women's Refuge and Support Service, will speak at the event which gets underway at 8pm.

The awareness event is being organised by the Church of Ireland's Athlone Union of Parishes as its contribution to the global '16 days of activism against gender-based violence' campaign which began on Saturday, November 25 and continues until Sunday, December 10.

Rev William Steacy of the Athlone Union of Parishes pointed out that the issue of coercive control was highlighted on RTE's Prime Time recently when the sisters of a young woman from Louth, Denise Morgan, spoke about how she was in a very controlling relationship and was murdered by her partner.

"Coercive Control can mean being isolated from friends, the controlling of finances, the monitoring of a person's time, controlling of where someone goes, who they see, or what they wear by a current or former partner," explained Rev Steacy.

All are welcome to attend the event in Moate next week, and tea will be served after the meeting.