Embedded Files
December 2025: Minister for Justice: Drafting of Valerie's Law is ongoing and it is on the priority list for publication in this session.
2026-03-13: X, C, A, B, MZ: I’m thinking of the lonely alphabet of brave, anonymous women and girls
2026-03-13: X, C, A, B, MZ: I’m thinking of the lonely alphabet of brave, anonymous women and girls
by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC (human rights lawyer)
2026-02-11: Cork's 96FM: Valerie French's Brother Calls On Tusla To Drop Opposition To Valerie's Law Suspending Guardianship After Conviction
2026-02-11: Cork's 96FM: Valerie French's Brother Calls On Tusla To Drop Opposition To Valerie's Law Suspending Guardianship After Conviction
2026-02-06: Ocean FM: North West Today "Valerie's Law"
2026-02-06: Ocean FM: North West Today "Valerie's Law"
Link TBD
2026-02-05 Radio Kerry: Valerie’s Law: Removing Convicted Spouse Killers’ Guardianship of Their Children
2026-02-05 Radio Kerry: Valerie’s Law: Removing Convicted Spouse Killers’ Guardianship of Their Children
2026-02-04 Southern Star: Victim's brother urges Tusla to stand behind Valerie's Law
2026-02-04 Southern Star: Victim's brother urges Tusla to stand behind Valerie's Law
2026-02-04 East Coast FM: The Morning Show "The rights of a child should be paramount"
2026-02-04 East Coast FM: The Morning Show "The rights of a child should be paramount"
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUVgHM4jAuZ/
2026-02-04 Irish Times Letters: Bill to remove parental rights of killers based on good evidence
2026-02-04 Irish Times Letters: Bill to remove parental rights of killers based on good evidence
Sir, – Like Ellen O’Malley Dunlop (Letters, February 4th) I was very surprised to read about Tusla’s objection to the proposed legislation on Valerie’s Law.
The Department of Justice is to be congratulated on the excellent and detailed research that it conducted on this topic as can be read on its Policy and Legislative Briefing Paper: Guardianship and Infants (Amendment) Bill 2025. It includes references to earlier commissioned research and reports, including the report Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence in Ireland. This work preceded the legislation, which is what is required in evidence-led policy formation.
However, the implementation of these new regulations will need agency support – so may need to be allocated to a more specific agency, such as Cuan? – Yours, etc,
Dr EVELYN MAHON (fellow emerita)
2026-02-04 Newstalk Breakfast: Interview on Tusla position.
2026-02-04 Newstalk Breakfast: Interview on Tusla position.
https://www.newstalk.com/news/tusla-valerie-french-2230631
2026-02-04 Irish Times Letters "Children are better off having no contact with parent convicted of a domestic abuse murder"
2026-02-04 Irish Times Letters "Children are better off having no contact with parent convicted of a domestic abuse murder"
Sir, - In Ellen Coyne’s article “Tusla objects to removing parental rights of killers,” (Social Affairs, February 2nd) she makes reference to the fact that Tusla, the child and family agency, claims that children’s best interests are served by them having a connection with their birth parents.
However, when reading further into the article it would seem that Tusla argues that parents accused of a “suspected killing” still have “inherent rights”, which is different from a convicted murderer having parental rights.
Family law is very complex when it comes to parental and children’s rights. However, if in a criminal court of law it was proven, beyond all reasonable doubt, that a parent, who was a domestic violent abuser, had maliciously planned and murdered the other parent, without any thought or care given to the consequences for the children who had been exposed to the domestic abuse from the perpetrator, surely it’s in the best interest of the children not to be exposed to this parent.
Some would argue that the imprisoned parent should have at least supervised access to the children. However, I would argue that even when access is supervised, child victims of domestic violence cannot be fully protected from further abuse from the perpetrator.
This is because no one can know what communications (which can be non-verbal) have been developed between perpetrators of domestic abuse and child victims, during their formative years. These communications may be the cause of the fear, anger, anxiety, self-harm and many other problems that children can develop when they have been exposed to domestic violence situations.
Children have a right to know who their parents are and where they are if that is known, which includes prison. I believe it’s in the best interest of the child to ensure that, in the years after the guilty verdict and imprisonment of the perpetrator of murder, they are given as much love and opportunities as possible for them to grow into responsible adults.
Then, when they reach the age of maturity they can make their own informed decision as to whether they want to have contact with the offending parent.
In the case of a convicted domestic abuse murderer, I would support Valerie’s Law. - Yours, etc,
ELLEN O’MALLEY-DUNLOP,
Member of Council of Europe’s GREVIO expert group,
Adjunct professor UL Law School,
Dublin 6W.
2026-02-03 Irish Daily Mail: “Safety 'is paramount' in Valerie's Law clash, Tusla and Justice Minister at odds over new legislation”
2026-02-03 Irish Daily Mail: “Safety 'is paramount' in Valerie's Law clash, Tusla and Justice Minister at odds over new legislation”
https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-daily-mail/20260203/281646786569646
2026-02-03 Irish Daily Mail: “Don't put killers 'rights' above victims' welfare" - Brenda Power
2026-02-03 Irish Daily Mail: “Don't put killers 'rights' above victims' welfare" - Brenda Power
When he strangled their mother, evil wife-killer James Kilroy betrayed his little boys in the worst way imaginable. This is how he's benefitted from the crime - and Tusla aren't stopping him: BRENDA POWER
2026-02-02 Irish Times: “Tusla has ‘many objections’ to proposed law removing parental rights from killers”
2026-02-02 Irish Times: “Tusla has ‘many objections’ to proposed law removing parental rights from killers”
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