Red flags, with Kathleen Funchion

“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 appeal refusal and 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
Fein MEP, whose 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 and the couple
broke up and got back together numerous times, leading her to
eventually approach her local women’s refuge for support.


A professional with a public and media profile in a demanding
job, she struggled to reconcile the public version of herself and
the private version in which 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 now.


Read the full story here: Kathleen Funchion 'feels vindicated
again' as ex-partner's sentence is raised for Coco's Law offence


Contact Women’s Aid on womensaid.ie or by calling 1800 341900.


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