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”
My husband was in a violent rage. And this time I felt like he wouldn't stop until he killed me.
I promised myself that if we lived through the night, we'd escape.
I'd tried to leave before, but I was too ashamed to tell my family and friends what was happening. To the outside world, I was a successful, professional woman, raising my young son with my loving husband.
But behind closed doors, my husband was violent and abusive — I lived in constant fear.”
“Miraculously, I survived that night. The next day, I fled with my son and went to stay with my family.
But we still weren't safe. My husband showed up day after day, harassing and abusing me and my family. We were terrified of what he might do.
That's when I heard about Saoirse. I called Saoirse's helpline and a kind woman answered and listened to me. She told me about Saoirse’s refuges and all their services that could help us.
My life changed after that.
Saoirse welcomed me and my son into their refuge. For the first time in years, I felt safe. Saoirse's team supported me to begin rebuilding my life and find freedom.
Ever since that first call, Saoirse has been there for us. From providing a safe space, to offering counselling, and accompanying me to court dates — they've been incredible.
I'm no longer ashamed to speak up about my experience. I'm proud to be a survivor.”
Feedback from Saoirse clients
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