In 2015, 26-year-old Emma Murphy made the extremely brave decision to post a video online, revealing that she was a victim of domestic violence. In the video, she has a black eye, having just been punched in the face by her partner…
In her new TV show, Emma takes a stand and tries to use her experience to make a difference.
Filmed over two years, Emma Murphy Fights Back tracks the Dublin woman's journey to increase awareness about domestic violence, and encourage other young women to speak out.
Viral Video
Three years ago, Emma posted the emotionally charged video to Facebook with the caption:
"I thought long and hard before posting this video, this is very difficult for me but I have to do what is RIGHT, if you or anyone you know has it is in a similar situation please share this video to inspire other women around the world, violence is NOT the answer!!!!"
In just a few months the video was viewed over ten million times and has been shared 155,000 times. Unwittingly Emma had become a role model for a growing generation of women wanting to speak out against domestic violence.
With eight out of ten women not reporting their experiences – domestic violence is a majorly silent problem in this country.
Ireland's Stats
On International Women's Day, RTÉ LifeStyle held a live podcast where Taragh Loughrey-Grant interviewed comedian Katherine Lynch, Psychotherapist Siobhan Murray and Women's Aid director Margaret Martin.
While speaking to Margaret, we learned that one in five women in Ireland will experience abuse.
"I think that the most surprising thing, a lot of the time, is that we're really talking about women from eighteen to eighty, from all backgrounds, from all the ethnic groups, from all education groups, from all professions.
"If you step onto the street and watch twenty women go by, they probably are as representative as the women who call us on the telephone," she explained.
Moving Forward
Speaking to Ray D'Arcy on RTÉ Radio 1, Emma says that looking back on the relationship with hindsight, she can see how badly she was treated.
"I gave my all. I really did. And I just feel that my heart was completely and utterly trampled on. And I know I did not deserve what I got in that relationship."
Emma hopes that her story and the stories of others like her can be a source of inspiration for others. Her work as an advocate is "self-therapy" for her, "an amazing feeling".
"I’m living proof that it doesn’t have to end. You know, that there is life after abuse. That you can move on with your life and you can become happy again."
Emma does TED talks and speaks in schools as part of her work as an advocate. In schools, she’s asked questions like "do you still love him?". When Ray put the same question to her, she was firm in her answer.
"I actually love myself for the first time in my life and myself and my kids is all that’s important…I have my goals and my dreams and my wishes and it’s about time that I made them come true."
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Emma Murphy Fights Back airs on Thursday, 31st May on RTÉ 2 at 9.30pm
If any of these issues affect you, and you need to talk to someone, you can reach Women's Aid at 1800 341 900 or find their website here.
