A landmark piece of legislation, known as Jennie's Law, has been formally enacted in the Republic of Ireland, introducing a public register for individuals convicted of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence (Judgements) Register Bill 2026 received approval from the Dáil, the Irish parliament, and has now been signed off by Irish President Catherine Connolly, marking a significant step in addressing domestic abuse.
The law is named in memory of Jennifer Poole, a 24-year-old mother of two, who was tragically murdered by her former partner in 2021. Her brother, Jason Poole, has been a tireless campaigner for the legislation, stating that his sister was unaware of her partner Gavin Murphy's history of domestic violence when they met in 2020. Murphy had previously been jailed for two years in 2015 for an attack on a former partner and her mother. He later pleaded guilty to Jennifer's murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment in April 2022.
Jennie's Law will see those convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner included on a publicly accessible register, hosted on the website of the Courts Service. A crucial element of the new law is the requirement for victims and survivors to provide consent before the convicted person's name can be published on the register. This aims to empower survivors while providing a preventative measure for potential future partners.
The legislation draws a clear distinction from the UK's 'Clare's Law', which allows individuals to ask police if their partner has a history of domestic abuse through a 'right to ask' application. Critics of Clare's Law have highlighted issues with police disclosure. In contrast, Jennie's Law creates a proactive, publicly available resource, which its proponents believe will offer a stronger deterrent and greater protection. Jason Poole expressed his belief that if such a register had been available, his sister would not have entered the relationship and would still be alive today.
The journey to implement Jennie's Law has been described as challenging by Mr Poole, who began meeting politicians to propose reforms following his sister's murder. He emphasised the importance of ensuring Jennifer was not merely 'another statistic' and that her children would know their mother's death led to meaningful change. The introduction of this register is intended to provide support for victims and families, preventing others from enduring similar suffering due to a lack of crucial information about a partner's violent past.