A domestic abuse survivor has said Ireland’s new coercive control legislation will encourage people who are suffering to come forward.

A 52-year-old man, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was convicted of coercive control, intimidation and multiple assault charges following a 21-day trial yesterday.

It is the first time a jury has found anyone guilty of coercive control since the offence was introduced under the Domestic Violence Act.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, survivor Jennifer Carroll said it is encouraging to see people getting the help they need.

“It was just such great news to hear,” she said.

“I had two solicitors say to me, we can go ahead with these domestic violence charges but it is a long road and the chances are the outcome is not going to be what you want it to be.

“I had photo evidence, I had videos and I think that is what turned survivors away from going to the police and going to the courts.

“So, seeing that headline this week was just really good to know that the help is available and stuff can get done.”

Blogger Jennifer Carroll

Ms Carroll said she spent nine years in the UK, where she met her former partner and became pregnant.

“Unfortunately, the violence began during the pregnancy and continued on for two years until I came back to Ireland,” she said.

“I think, looking back now, it began a lot earlier than that. It was just, I think I recognised it more when the violence began.

“There are just so many different forms of abuse and I think people are always waiting for the physical abuse and then, once it is that, the alarm bells go off and people think OK, maybe something isn’t right here.

“But the abuse I suffered emotionally and mentally, they are the ones I think are hardest to overcome and when I look back over the entire relationship, that is what stayed with me the most.”

Control

She said a lot of the abuse began with control and jealousy.

“Sometimes I would put it down to, ‘maybe he is overprotective and he is just treating me good.’” She said.

“I thought maybe I was being a little bit selfish if I wanted to go out with my friends. At the time I was at Uni so I was thinking, maybe, I am being a little bit too much of party head. Then I would be feeling guilty so I would be staying at home all the time.

“Then I think, when he began to drink a little bit more, especially during the pregnancy, I then was seeing him as a victim, like he was suffering and he had an addiction.

“I needed to help him and I had to support him and if I was to walk away … I think that is where a lot of the guilt stemmed from.”

Help

She said the violence eventually got so bad that she feared for her one-year-old son’s life and reached out to a friend for help.

“All of my family was in Ireland at the time so she came over to the house,” she said.

“Unfortunately, he showed up and there was a really bad incident. She phoned the police, and he was arrested.”

She said it is easier to see what was happening now that she is clear of the relationship.

“When you look back over the relationship, you see all the manipulation; you see exactly how they worked,” she said.

“It is so pre-planned and pre-meditated, which is what is scary about it.”

Domestic abuse

Ms Carroll said a more open conversation about domestic abuse, coupled with the new legislation and technological advancements like the Bright Sky Ireland app have all really helped to lift the stigma.

Ms Carroll said “life is great” now that she has returned to Ireland with her son.

“My little boy is five now,” she said. “I am working away; I lost a lot of weight and I kind of worked on myself the last two or three years and I turned my life around in a positive way.

“So, I just hope people can see that it is not all dark ends. There can be happy endings as well after situations like this, no matter how traumatic they might be.”

Earlier on the show, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre CEO Noeline Blackwell said yesterday’s conviction had “rattled the cages” of the coercive control legislation and shown it to be fit for purpose.

You can listen back here to Ms Carroll's interview here:

If you are the victim of domestic abuse, please call Women’s Aid 24-hr Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900 or dial 999 if it’s an emergency situation