Article: Group urges tougher domestic violence measures

One in five homicides that occur in Rochester stems from domestic violence, police Chief James Sheppard told a group gathered Wednesday to promote National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Sheppard was joined by County Executive Maggie Brooks and local domestic violence advocates to ask the community to wear purple this month and discuss issues of domestic violence with their friends and loved ones.

Cathy Mazzotta, executive director of Alternatives for Battered Women, said much has been done to combat domestic violence, but there is recent evidence that more needs to be done.

"As many of you know, although it is getting better, and our laws are getting better, and our coordination and our services are getting better, and our community is getting better, sadly and tragically just a few days ago we had another domestic violence-related homicide," she said. "So our work is not done; we are still very much needed."

Mazzotta was referring to the death Friday of a woman in Perinton.

Patricia Irish, 37, died from asphyxiation and multiple stab wounds. Her husband, Douglas A. Irish, 56, of 4 Rosscommon Crescent, has been charged with second-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

Janine Lucas, chairwoman of the Rochester/Monroe County Domestic Violence Consortium, said groups such as ABW around the country are struggling to keep up with the need for help.

"In a recent study, the National Network to End Domestic Violence reported that 85 percent of domestic violence shelters and service providers in our state reported a rising demand for services while dealing with reduced resources," Lucas said.

Brooks told the crowd domestic violence touched her own family earlier this year when a friend of her 26-year-old daughter became a victim of domestic violence.

"It raised awareness within our household, and certainly it underscored the fact that we have that responsibility to stand up and protect people," she said.

Mazzotta said 25 to 33 percent of all women will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes.

"So wear purple, talk about the issue, communicate to your friends, family and others that this is an issue that we really need to address — it affects all of us."