Domestic violence register could have saved Jennifer Poole, Seanad hears

Jennifer Poole was just 24 and the mother of two children when she was stabbed by her former partner, Gavin Murphy. Pictures: Collins Courts

A domestic violence register similar to one operated for sex offenders could have saved a murder victim, her brother has said.

Jason Poole was speaking at Leinster House as legislation to establish the register was introduced to the Seanad. 

His sister Jennifer Poole, aged 24 and a mother of two children, was stabbed seven times by her former partner, Gavin Murphy, in her apartment in Finglas in April 2021. 

Jason Poole, brother of  Jennifer Poole, spoke at Leinster House as legislation to establish a register of domestic violence offenders was introduced to the Seanad.

During his trial, the court heard that Mr Murphy had two assault charges which were against his "romantic partner at the time" and her mother when a knife was produced during a fight.

Mr Poole said that had Mr Murphy been on a garda register, this information could have been passed to his sister, who would have left Mr Murphy, but was not aware of his previous convictions.

Fianna Fáil senator Fiona O'Loughlin, who brought the bill to the Seanad, said that anyone convicted of a domestic assault would be placed on the register, which would be kept by gardaí. 

Ms O'Loughlin said that "if red flags show, as they had in Jennifer's case", gardaí could disclose the convictions to a subsequent partner or their family.

Mr Poole said that 18 women have died violently since his sister's murder, which underscored the need for the register.

Ms O'Loughlin said that the law would be known as Jennifer's bill in a bid to "give testament" to Ms Poole's life.

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Fianna Fáil TD Jim O'Callaghan said that the register would not be publicly available but said that it would available to people who may be in a new relationship.

Mr Poole said that the introduction of the bill made Wednesday a "day of hope" for his family.

"Today is a day of hope that our sister, our absolutely amazing sister, has her voice heard today and that other people won't die at the hands of perpetrators like she did, and the women that have come after her. 

"We know statistically the amount of perpetrators who murdered their victims in their own homes. 

We've seen from a recent report carried out by the guards in July that 126 domestic violence cases are being reported every day.

"That is way, way too many."

Mr Poole said that while Jennifer was gone, his family "will never stop fighting for her" and called on Justice Minister Helen McEntee to support the legislation. 

Ms McEntee has previously said that the idea was a good one and last summer said that gardaí were examining how such a system would work.