Your stories

Cara's story

"We stayed at Saoirse’s refuge at Christmas. It’s not how any mother wants to spend Christmas, but everyone there was so nice."

"I had tried to leave my abusive husband three or four times before, but I never made it further than the same parking space up the road from our house. I’d get that far and I wouldn't know what to do or even where I’d go.

I remember the night I finally left. It was winter, Christmas was approaching, and my husband’s drunken rage was directed at our teenage son. In that moment, I found the strength to escape — if I couldn’t do it for me, I would do it for my son.

I frantically packed some belongings and fled with my son. I drove down the road and pulled into the same spot I had all those times before.

My hands shaking, I made a phone call that changed everything. The woman on the other end of the helpline said Saoirse had a refuge space for us.

We spent the weeks that followed at Saoirse’s refuge. It wasn’t just a place to stay. Saoirse’s team gave so much practical and emotional support to help us recover from the abuse and begin to rebuild our lives.

They were there for us any hour of the day or night, whatever we needed.

I don’t know where I’d be now if it hadn’t been for Saoirse.

We stayed at Saoirse’s refuge that Christmas. It’s not how any mother wants to spend Christmas, but everyone there was so nice. The refuge was decorated lovely and it felt Christmassy. We received lots of gifts, which helped us know we weren't alone — that there were people who believed us and who cared.

That was nearly seven years ago. These days, I’m so happy I divorced him and have a home of my own, free from fear.

I’m proud to be a survivor and advocate, and I'd say to anyone experiencing abuse — Please make that call to Saoirse. You will be listened to and you will be believed."

Jennie's story

“I'm so grateful we're free”

"I couldn't breathe and I could hear the baby scream," Jennie recalls. 

Her partner was beating and verbally abusing her – in front of their infant son – because she wouldn't engage in intimacy. 

Like so many survivors, the abuse followed a familiar pattern. Apologies. Promises. Then more harm.

"I was broken. I was completely broken. I didn't know what to do. It was like I couldn't even think for myself."

Later that night, Jennie found Saoirse Domestic Violence Services online. That moment changed her life.

"The minute he left for work the next morning, I rang Saoirse. Thankfully they had a refuge place for me and my son."

Jennie arrived at our refuge frightened and overwhelmed – but not alone.

"The girls were so lovely. They were so welcoming to me and my son. I was obviously all over the place, but they were very non-judgmental."

What happened next may be hard to understand, but it's not uncommon. 

Following a four-week stay in our refuge, Jennie returned to her partner. He promised to change and to work on his anger issues. 

But before long, "the mask just completely dropped," Jennie recalls. The abuse escalated again, and this time her young son was hit by her partner.

With ongoing support from Saoirse, Jennie's courage grew. 

She attended our support groups. She rebuilt her confidence. And on her eighth attempt, she escaped for good.

"I left him eight times. The eighth time was the time I actually stayed away. 

"Now I can go to bed when I want to go to bed. I can eat when I want to eat. I can come home when I want to come home. 

"For me and my son, there's no aggression in our environment anymore. I'm so grateful we're free and happy now."

Emma's story

“I promised myself that if we lived through the night, we’d escape”

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