O'Loughlin: Fianna Fáil will enact Jennie's Law if returned to Government
Published on: 13 November 2024
Kildare South General Election Candidate Fiona O'Loughlin has confirmed Fianna Fáil will enact a Bill to establish a Domestic Violence Register if returned to Government.
The Bill, developed by Fiona O'Loughlin with Jason Poole, is known as Jennie's Law and would create a register that would give the Gardaí the power to be able to inform somebody, when asked, if their partner has a violent history.
O'Loughlin said: "We need to work collectively to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as a society.
"Our Manifesto commits to introducing a 'Domestic Violence and Abuse Disclosure Scheme’ by enacting the Bill I worked on with Jason Poole, the Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill, known as Jennie's Law, if returned to Government.
"Jennie's Law would establish a coercive control register, so that a person could obtain information on the offences committed if entering a relationship with someone on the register.
"I am proud to have worked on this Bill with Jason, who has been campaigning for a Domestic Violence Register since his sister Jennifer, was killed by her ex-partner Gavin Murphy in April 2021. Unknown to Jennifer, Murphy has a history of domestic violence.
“The importance of Jennie's Law cannot be understated. The existence of a Domestic Violence Register could have prevented the murder of Jennifer as it would have meant that she would have been aware of her ex-partner’s history of domestic violence."
Jason Poole said: "Fiona has worked tirelessly to support me and my family to achieve our ambitions to have a domestic violence register put in place and have it named after my beloved sister who was taken from us.
"I am delighted that Fianna Fáil as part of their manifesto have included the establishment of a domestic violence register in her name.
"This can only happen if Fianna Fáil are part of the next government and bring this legislation forward. Fiona and her team had gotten the legislation to stage 3 however with the lack of support from the Department of Justice the legislation did not move forward.
"Fiona and her team have not given up and we are delighted that Fianna Fáil truly believes that what we have put forward could work and make a difference.
"Please support Fiona and your local Fianna Fáil TDs to bring this change. We need a domestic violence register and we need Jennie's Law."
-ENDS-
The Fianna Fáil Manifesto can be accessed online here: https://7358484.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7358484/FF%20Manifesto%202024_V4_Screen%5B45%5D.pdf
