IN HER OWN WORDS: Woman beaten and sexually abused by garda ex whose colleagues then intimidated her reveals the reason why she will NEVER stop fighting for justice...

Published: 22:35, 7 June 2026 | Updated: 22:35, 7 June 2026 ‘Jennifer’, who is now training to be a barrister, lost custody of her son to her Garda ex-partner after she was accused of parental alienation in the family courts. Here she speaks about the devastating impact of losing her child to a man she has accused of horrific physical and emotional abuse. ‘The loss of my child has completely changed my life. Nothing can adequately describe the devastation of being separated from your child when your only intention was to protect them. What makes this even more painful is the impact on my son. Here, Jennifer bravely speaks about the devastating impact of losing her child to a man she has accused of horrific physical and emotional abuse ‘He expressed fear of his father to professionals on a number of occasions, yet those concerns carried little weight in the family courts. ‘I struggle to understand how someone who admitted assault in family court could then be entrusted with custody. ‘That contradiction is something that I continue to find impossible to reconcile. The hardest part is the absence of the ordinary moments school runs, bedtime stories, birthdays and every day conversations knowing that time with your child can never be replaced. ‘Those moments are gone and they cannot be recovered. ‘The greatest sadness is knowing that one day I may have to help my son understand what happened. ‘I left an abusive relationship because I did not want him growing up believing that abuse was normal or acceptable. ‘Yet, in trying to protect him, I lost the child I was trying to keep safe. ‘Jennifer’, who is now training to be a barrister, lost custody of her son to her Garda ex-partner after she was accused of parental alienation in the family courts ‘What worries me most is the message cases like mine send to other victims of abuse who are considering coming forward. When people are told abuse will be taken seriously, they need to be able to trust that they will be protected and heard. ‘In my view, admissions of assault and serious findings of misconduct should have significant professional consequences for anyone in a position of public trust. ‘Throughout this process, I felt my former partner was protected by the authority of his badge and position while my concerns and experiences were repeatedly minimised or dismissed. ‘I will never stop fighting for my son, for accountability and for the truth to be heard. ‘My son deserves to know that everything I did was motivated by love, protection and the belief that he deserved a life free from violence and fear.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.