Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion details abusive relationship with ex partner
Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion has urged anyone that knows someone who might be in a coercive relationship to not be judgemental but 'listen to them.'
The 44-year-old politician detailed how she has come to terms with her own abusive relationship at the hands of her partner of six years, Sean Tyrell.
Mr Tyrell was sentenced to four-months in jail for offences under Coco's Law against Ms Funchion. Sinn Féin MEP Kathleen Funchion has urged anyone that knows someone who might be in a coercive relationship to not be judgemental but 'listen to them.' Pic: Ireland AM/ Instagram
Speaking on Ireland AM on Monday, the MEP told presenters Tommy Bowe and Muireann O'Connell how her relationship with Tyrell was 'dysfunctional at times.'
'Hindsight is hindsight for a reason,' she said, 'There was elements of control probably from very early on.'
Ms Funchion added that the control can be 'hard to identify' as it is a gradual process which results in you doubting and questioning yourself.
She added that it results in a 'huge amount of confidence' lost, which is what the abusive partner wants. View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Ireland AM (@irelandamvmtv)
The MEP for Ireland South detailed how her ex-partner would question if she wasn't home by a certain time, a feat difficult for a politician who deals with the public.
'You're always trying to be ten steps ahead to think what kind of potential issue is happening here,' she detailed.
'I felt that I was always trying to find a solution as I really loved Sean, I really wanted this relationship to work. For me, this was it. I was determined to see how we could figure this out.'
Ms Funchion detailed how her partner had been threatening to go to journalists with 'various stories' about her claiming that she was financially and physically abusive to him. Speaking on Ireland AM on Monday, the MEP told presenters Tommy Bowe and Muireann O'Connell how her relationship with Tyrell was 'dysfunctional at times.' Pic: Ireland AM/ Instagram
'I went to the Gardaí; I reached out to the Amber Women's Refuge as well,' the politician shared.
She went on to give her praise to Gardaí and the protective services unit in Kilkenny who she branded as 'amazing' during the case.
Speaking about writing her victim impact statement, she admitted it took her a 'very long time' to write it, adding that she was 'physically sick' in the lead up to having to read it out in court.
'It is very, very difficult for people,' she said, 'I've always had admiration for people who come forward but even more-so after going through it.'
The Kilkenny woman added that she did feel 'physically lighter' following the case, but detailed there are still difficulties in her life following on from the relationship, such as letting people into her life.
'That is something that has changed for me,' she stated, 'But I am really glad that I did go all the way with it.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill not ruling out run in presidential election
Asked if she was considering putting her name forward, Ms O'Neill said Sinn Féin was working its way through deliberations on selecting a candidate. Speaking at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh, Ms O'Neill said she has plenty to do as First Minister, but did not rule herself out as a candidate. The election for the next president is expected to take place in October. When asked if she would put her name forward as a candidate, Ms O'Neill said: 'I am working our way through our deliberations as we speak.' She also called for voting rights in presidential elections to be extended to Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland. I could be elected Uachtarán, but I can't vote in that election 'Just to say, we obviously also haven't concluded our own deliberations in terms of the presidential race itself,' she said. 'I think I've plenty to do being as First Minister, but I think that the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected Uachtarán na hÉireann, but I can't vote in that election. 'So that's where there's a deficit, and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to the North, so that Irish citizens in the North can vote for their Uachtarán.' Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was not aware of any engagement with former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood about becoming the Fianna Fáil candidate for the presidency. It has been reported that Mr Eastwood is considering a bid for Áras an Uachtaráin. Asked to confirm if Mr Eastwood had been approached by the party, Mr Martin challenged the basis for the question, adding: 'There's been no contact with me, there's been no engagement that I am aware of from the Fianna Fail party and it hasn't been on the agenda at all.' Mr Martin said he was 'surprised' to hear Mr Eastwood was considering a run, but 'it's open to everybody to put themselves forward'.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Conor McGregor sports suspect eye as UFC thug dances with wife on yacht in first sighting since horror Ibiza attack
CONOR MCGREGOR has broken cover after his 6am Ibiza nightclub punch-up. The UFC star appeared to sport a bruised eye as he soaked up the sun with 9 Conor McGregor appeared to sport a bruised eye as he broke cover following his Ibiza nightclub brawl Credit: BackGrid 9 The 36-year-old packed on the PDA with fiancee Dee Devlin Credit: BackGrid 9 McGregor was all smiles despite his nightclub brawl earlier in the week Credit: BackGrid 9 The UFC star is currently in the Spanish party capital of Ibiza Credit: BackGrid 9 McGregor had not been spotted since the brawl on Tuesday morning Credit: BackGrid 9 Video obtained by The Sun showed McGregor throwing two punches at another partygoer Credit: The Sun McGregor packed on the PDA with Devlin on a private yacht in the Spanish party capital. The pair were spotted dancing the afternoon away and sharing a smooch in the marina. But an apparent red mark could be seen on McGregor's face, who had not been seen the ex-UFC fighter, 36, striking a man in the infamous Pacha nightclub on Tuesday morning. READ MORE ON CONOR MCGREGOR The Notorious appeared to connect with two punches in the shocking incident. An eyewitness told The Sun the reveller was removed from the club while McGregor partied on. One said: "Clearly something's been said to annoy him and he's reacted very badly. 'The guy seemed to fall to the floor, and his mates came to pick him up and get him away. Most read in MMA BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "There [didn't appear to be any] consequences for Conor, but the guy he punched was taken away and I didn't see him again." Another club-goer said: "He had his arm around someone who looked like his mate. Shocking moment UFC thug Conor McGregor pummels club reveller with TWO brutal punches in packed Ibiza nightclub "Someone came up to them and when Conor hit him, about five people fell to the floor as the guy stumbled back. "It was a bit like bowling pins, but the guy was really shaken by the hits. "About a minute later, the bouncers came and got him on the back and took him out of the club, because he had annoyed Conor. "It was right before close anyway. There was no messing around, they just removed him. "Conor left through the garden a bit later, he didn't look very happy that they got into a fight." The reveller's identity was revealed in a now-deleted Instagram post by club mogul Wayne Lineker - brother of England legend Gary. He took two punches from Conor McGregor in Pacha for absolutely no reason. Wayne Lineker McGregor had been snapped earlier in the evening at Lineker's O Beach club alongside . He was also joined at the event by Wayne later said he was "disappointed" with McGregor for attacking his employee and friend Joe Gomez. The 63-year-old wrote: "This is my very close friend who has worked at Ocean for eight years, he has the most special heart and in all of the years that I've known him he has never raised his voice once. "He took two punches from Conor McGregor in Pacha for absolutely no reason. "Let me introduce you to Joe Gooomez (sic). He took the punches like a champion." 9 Wayne Lineker claimed the reveller struck by McGregor was his pal Joe Gomez (right) Credit: INstagram 9 McGregor had partied at Lineker's O Beach Club ahead of the incident Credit: INSTAGRAM @waynelineker 9 McGregor also shared a snap with Katie Price in Ibiza Credit: INSTAGRAM @thenotoriousmma Lineker also deleted a snap of him partying with the MMA legend, who rocked a white hat and cigar for the occasion. He continued: "I've since deleted my post of Conor at Ocean on Sunday. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. "We at Ocean Beach McGregor made his UFC debut in April 2013. He quickly won over fight fans with his mix of fast hands and aggressive grappling. The Notorious has tasted victory in 22 of his 28 pro fights, but hasn't entered the octagon since a rematch loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Miss Universe finalist shares pics of horror injuries as ex who called her ‘stupid c***' in text is cleared of assault
A MISS Universe finalist has shared pics of her horror injuries after her ex was cleared of assault. Chloe Othen, 34, had been invited over to Ricky Lawrence's home in Knightsbridge, London, when "all hell broke loose", a court heard. 8 Chloe Othen posted pictures of her injuries on Instagram Credit: Instagram 8 She claimed she was attacked by Ricky Lawrence but he was cleared of all charges Credit: Instagram 8 She has nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram Credit: Instagram 8 Chloe said that 'the justice system failed me' Credit: Instagram The Miss Universe finalist claimed she was pinned down by Lawrence and accused him of punching and biting her on her legs, arm and shoulder , jurors heard. Chloe, an Instagram influencer with 284,000 followers, said she "feared she would die" at the 33-year-old's £1.5million apartment. But Lawrence, who runs Lawrence & Winslade bespoke tailors in Knightsbridge, denied the charges and was cleared of assault causing actual bodily harm after an eight-day retrial. Whisky merchant Lawrence was accused of punching Chloe multiple times but was found not guilty having insisted a love rival beat her up. Read more in UK News He claimed her current partner Hatton Garden jeweller Bora Guccuk, 41, was responsible for Chloe's injuries. Now, Chloe has taken to Instagram with her latest post referencing the ordeal. Horrifying pictures of her injuries were uploaded by the influencer along with a statement. Chloe said: "I trusted the justice system. It failed me. Most read in The Sun "All it takes is an implication of doubt to devalue the overall felt like I was on trial. "This is happening far too often — not just to me, but to survivors everywhere. The courts are being used to retraumatise victims, not protect them. "I spoke my truth. I fought for justice. And I was let down. Moment vile woman caught kicking dog on neighbour's doorbell camera "We need change - because justice shouldn't be this easy to escape." The court was told the pair had been in a relationship for around six months between December 2021 and May 2022 but remained "on and off" after it ended. Giving evidence, Chloe described their relationship as "narcissistic" adding: "You are addicted to the highs and lows. It is euphoric." During her evidence, the influencer said: "I genuinely thought I'm going to die." She told the court she was left with six bite marks and as a result she needed a tetanus shot and antibiotics. Chloe later went to hospital where it was found one of the bite marks on her neck had "turned septic", it was said. Jurors previously heard a slew of messages were recovered from Lawrence's phone that were sent just before the accusations of assault. He told her: 'I'll do everything in my power to f**k you up. "You're a lying little w****, you said you were coming to me an hour-and-a-half ago." Chloe also described Lawrence as "crazy" and claimed he pursued her while she was at the Cannes film festival and in Mykonos with friends. CHARGES CLEARED Smartly dressed in a grey suit, bearded Lawrence appeared emotional as the unanimous verdict was announced as he looked over to supporters at the back of the courtroom. Giving evidence in court, Lawrence claimed Chloe had confided in him that her boyfriend Guccuk was violent towards her - and that at one point he had seen her with a red mark on her face. Lawrence claimed: "She had a mark on the side of her face. It looked like a footprint. It was a round mark. It was a red round mark. "She always described the relationship as violent. She said he used to beat her up, things of that nature." Asked by Tom Wyatt, defending, whether he had ever bitten anyone, Lawrence replied: "Absolutely not. I'd never even had a fight". The defence lawyer said no one was suggesting Chloe was not assaulted but claimed Guccuk was responsible for her injuries. Mr Wyatt added: "She couldn't risk losing the man who paid for her lifestyle." Francesca Allen, 28, who appeared on series five of Love Island, dated Lawrence in 2018 and wrote a character statement as part of Lawrence's defence. Following his initial arrest, Lawrence had wept and said: "This is ridiculous. She's ruining my life. I asked her to leave." Lawrence later gave police a prepared statement in which he confirmed his relationship with Ms Othen began in January 2022 and ended four months later "because she aborted my child". 8 Ricky Lawrence denied assault and was cleared of all charges Credit: Dan Charity 8 Chloe has hit out on Instagram after the ruling saw Lawrence walk free Credit: Instagram 8 She questioned the 'justice' of the situation despite Lawrence being cleared Credit: Instagram 8 The model told jurors she feared she would die Credit: Central News
