The brother of Jennifer Poole has said he believes his sister would still be alive today if there had been a publicly available Domestic Violence Register.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Mr Poole described her as an “amazing person all round” and that “you couldn’t ask for a better sister”.
Tomorrow, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan will ask Cabinet to approve the creation of a Domestic Violence Register and the legislation to do so will be named ‘Jennie’s Law’ in Ms Poole’s honour.
“I suppose for us, as a family, we’ve been fighting for nearly four years to try and have Jennie’s Law enacted in Jennie’s memory and in Jennie’s name,” Mr Poole said.
“With the legislation [being discussed] tomorrow by the Cabinet, it’s that reminder of what happened to Jennifer four years ago.
“And to walk into a newsagent and see her on the front page of all the newspapers again, brings you back to that Saturday 17th or Sunday 18th April 2021.
“This time it’s of a more positive nature and that’s what we have to think about as a family.
“That Jennifer’s loss will protect other families in the future, so that they don’t have to go through what we’re going through.
“There will be legislation, to protect men and women out there from going into relationships where there might be red flags.”
🎥“Domestic violence in Ireland has become far too common, and it’s NOT ok!”
Jason Poole addresses media after Gavin Murphy (30) was jailed for murdering his sister, Jennifer (24).
Help is out there if you find yourself in an abusive relationship @Womens_Aid @SAFEIreland pic.twitter.com/u13wIGZy3O
— Frank Greaney (@FrankGreaney) April 29, 2022
Mr Poole continued that the day they heard she had been murdered was one that will “live on for the rest of our lives”.
He added that while the legislation “will not bring Jennifer back”, they are happy it will help other people in the future.
“Had this law been in place, Jennifer would have been alive today - in my opinion and in my family’s opinion,” he said.
“Because Gavin had a history of domestic violence; he had done time in prison for domestic violence offences.
“When he met Jennifer, he told Jennifer he had been living in Spain.
“Jennifer was none the wiser because there was no law to go and check somebody’s record.”
In April, Gavin Murphy of Coultry Drive, Ballymun, Dublin, was handed a life sentence for the murder of Ms Poole.
Anyone who has been impacted by domestic violence can contact Women’s Aid’s National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Main image: A split-screen of Jennifer Poole and flowers left for her after her murder.
