Man walks coast to coast to highlight parental alienation

An Antrim man, walking a marathon a day for 14 days to highlight the issue of parental alienation, passed through this region over the weekend as he aims to finish in his native Glenarm on August 5.

Charlie Magill (52) began trekking the 364miles/586km from Tragumna Bay, Skibbereen, on the coast of Co Cork, on July 23 last.

Speaking to The Anglo-Celt last month, the father-of-three said he decided to do the walk after witnessing someone close to him living through the pain and struggle of fighting to see their children.

"It’s something that’s happening everywhere, right under our very noses. You might not think it, but it's far more common a thing than people might like to think."

Charlie, who is also embracing the challenge to highlight positive mental health, made his way through the Kingscourt, Carrickmacross area as he treks a South-West to North-East route home.

"Having watched someone experience losing contact with their children, the emotional, mental and physical damage of it all, a parent being alienated, it doesn’t just affect them, it affects the whole family and extended family as well."

Since announcing his intention to do the walk, Charlie says he’s received messages of support from all across Ireland, including alienated parents, many of whom have only been too willing to offer their help and support along the route.

"It’s something I feel very strongly about. It’s wrong that a parent would feel they’ve the right to keep a child away from another parent. I suppose one of the reasons for the walk is that I feel the system doesn’t do enough. Something has to change. If nothing else, I hope people will start talking about what’s going on."

The proceeds from Charlie's walk will go to La Dolce Vita and Turning Point NI, two charities chosen for their commitment to supporting people experiencing parental alienation and poor mental health.