WARNING -- Graphic. Courageous domestic violence victim Terri-Lousie Graham

[theHandpuppet]

This is the face of domestic violence.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/courageous-domestic-violence-victim-terrilousie-graham-tells-of-how-her-ex-greg-logue-beat-and-raped-her-30278827.html

The Belfast Telegraph (NI)
Courageous domestic violence victim Terri-Lousie Graham tells of how her ex Greg Logue beat and raped her
Abused woman will finally get justice as ex-partner is jailed
By Donna Deeney – 16 May 2014

A woman who endured three years of horrific sexual, physical and mental abuse at the hands of her partner has spoken of how she found the strength to finally take him to court...

...Logue [her abuser] has been brought before court several times since last November for sentencing and each time it has been put back.

Terri-Louise Graham has spoken of the mental strain she is under each time she goes to court and has to look at the man who put her through years of hell...

..."Despite all this, I would encourage any woman, in fact I would plead with her, to lift the phone or run out the door and get help because there is a safety net out there waiting for you."

Related article:
Terri-Louise Graham was punched, kicked and raped... by a man who said he loved her
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/terrilouise-graham-was-punched-kicked-and-raped-by-a-man-who-said-he-loved-her-30278831.html

[theHandpuppet]

1. In Northern Ireland, the domestic abuse levels rise.

Keep in mind the estimated population for Northern Ireland is 1.84 million people, smaller than that of Houston, with a 2012 population estimate of 2.16 million.

The Belfast Telegraph
Domestic abuse levels rise
By Chris Kilpatrick – 16 May 2014

(excerpt)
The statistics show that, on average, one incident takes place every 19 minutes.

During the same year the PSNI recorded 12,720 domestic abuse crimes, which is the highest level on record in the past 10 years.

There have been seven murders with a known domestic abuse motivation carried out in the past year.

"This means that there have been at least 69 victims of murder or manslaughter as a consequence of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland over the past 10 years. A very concerning figure," said Policing Board member, Jonathan Craig MLA....

MORE at http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/domestic-abuse-levels-rise-30278832.html

[libodem]

2. Dear Goddess

That was brutal. Have they legalized divorce in Ireland, yet? They are as backwards as the middle east in the disdainful manner in which women are held. {{{Shudder}}}

Dear Pope.

Please pay attention to the sisters and the kids in your church and make it better for them.

Impressed by your stance on poverty,

Libodem.

[theHandpuppet]

3. Divorce in the Republic of Ireland has been legal since 1996, I believe

The Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland repealed the constitutional prohibition of divorce and was signed into law on June 17, 1996.

The case cited in my OP was from Northern Ireland, part of the UK and which as far as I know, has never prohibited divorce.

[libodem]

4. I'm behind the times

I wasn't sure if it was legal to leave those situations, yet, or not. At least there has been some progress. As a formerly battered spouse these stories grab my attention.


I escaped in 1984 and never looked back. I had a few bruises but nothing like this poor woman. She looks so badly beaten in the photos. The man has all the signs of a sexual sadist. Sick pervert.

[theHandpuppet]

5. I commend your bravery as a survivor of domestic violence

I used to live in a large city and upstairs from where I worked was the office for the battered women's shelter. (It wasn't the shelter itself, but where women came to sign in and from there be taken to the shelter.) There were times when I got on the elevator that I'd see women beaten so badly it was a wonder they could stand. Yet so many went back to their abusers, it made me heartsick.

[libodem]

6. I didn't stand for it for very long

I knew. once it turned physical, it wouldn't stop. I took the kids and went to a shelter. Those were hard times. I wish it had been different. But I was hard headed. I wanted my own way. My parents really didn't want me to marry him. I thought I could change him. Seriously, it sounds so typical, now