The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Kathleen Funchion on abuse, coercion and the end of a legal battle

Sinn Féin MEP reflects on coercive abuse, legal battles and the appeal ruling under Coco’s Law

Kathleen Funchion opens up about coercive abuse after appeal refusal in Coco’s Law case.

“I suppose from early on there was red flags that I didn't want to see, if I'm being perfectly honest,” says MEP Kathleen Funchion of her relationship with Sean Tyrell, who yesterday lost an appeal against the sentence he received for offences under Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, also known as Coco’s Law.

The refusal of the appeal and the increase in Tyrell’s sentence for sending malicious and defamatory messages about his then partner marks the end of a three-and-a-half-year legal process for the Sinn Féin MEP. 

Her relationship with Tyrell began in 2016 when she was a candidate and he was a volunteer in her constituency office.

Tyrell’s behaviour became increasingly coercive. The couple broke up and reconciled numerous times, before she eventually sought support from her local women’s refuge.

A professional with a public profile in a demanding role, she struggled to reconcile her public persona with her private reality, where her confidence was shattered and she questioned every decision.

“It didn't matter what you did in this situation. It was always going to be like this, because this person just fundamentally, you know, was a controlling person.

“It wasn't about how many phone calls you made to any men in your life. It was about them and their behaviour. And I think if I can get that message out there, I would love to do that,” says Funchion.

Contact Women’s Aid at womensaid.ie or call 1800 341900.