A woman who was savagely beaten by her former partner has urged the justice minister to prevent his early release from prison.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition urging authorities to stop 38-year-old Paul Barry from Ballybrack in Dublin walking free from prison early.

He was handed a 32-month sentence for savagely beating his long-term partner Kim Fox and leaving her for dead at her home in Dublin in December 2018.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Ms Fox said he came home from the pub and attacked her while she was in her bed.

“I heard him coming up the stairs and the next thing I knew, I was out cold,” she said.

“My daughter found me. She came home at about 3am. She was supposed to be staying in a friend’s house. She just had a bad feeling so she came home and she went up the stairs and she saw the light off, which she found strange.

“She saw him sitting on the sofa smoking and asked him, ‘where is my mam’ and he said ‘she’s fine, she is in bed, leave her alone.”

“Only for she turned on the light and saw me. She said I was placed in the bed; the covers were put on top of me; I have black hair and my hair was red with the blood and the pillow was just soaked and the duvet was soaked in blood.

“So, she rang the police and she said my mam is dead. She is dead in the bed.”

Kim Fox after the attack in December 2018. Image: Kim Fox

Ms Fox said she was left with horrific injuries after the attack.

“I had to have plastic surgery on my upper lip and I am left with scarring,” she said. “I had fractured ribs. I had a fractured eye socket where he was dancing on my head. The forensics found blood all around the room and hair all around the room so he must have been dragging me – I was actually unconscious so I don’t remember anything.

“I had to get new teeth. So yeah, the injuries were horrific.”

Ms Fox said she was pleased with the 32-month sentence when it was handed down as she was told the highest sentence available was five years.

"Total shock"

However, she said was in “total shock” when it was reported last week that Barry would be out in time for Christmas.

“My daughter is having a baby in October and the pressure is on her as well,” she said. “She found me in that state.

“I am terrified he would come back to try and finish me off.

“I did actually get rid of him one time and he came back and broke into my bedroom, put a load of newspapers on bed, took a photograph with a lighter and said, ‘if you don’t take me back, I’ll set you on fire.’

“I had to keep taking him back because he was putting the fear of god into me. I couldn’t go to my family; I couldn’t tell them because I didn’t want them getting into trouble.”

Release

Ms Fox said she was never told her abuser would be getting out early and noted that the investigating garda was also shocked to hear the news.

“The system has let me down big time,” she said. “I thought, with the 32 months, I thought Jesus that is amazing but then to realise he is getting out so quick. Justice hasn’t been served.”

Ms Fox and Stop Domestic Violence in Ireland (SDVII) are calling on the justice minister to intervene in the case.

They want Barry to serve his full sentence and for a Protective No Contact Order to be put in place upon his release.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues discussed this morning, you can contact the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1800 341 900. That’s 1800 341 900.