People who murder their spouses should lose their parental rights to avoid the “hellish situation” where killers have control over their victims.
That’s the call from Women’s Aid, speaking after James Kilroy was given a life sentence for the murder of his wife, Valerie French Kilroy.
Following the sentencing, Ms French Kilroy’s brother, David French, said the fact that Kilroy retains control over his children is a “hellish situation” and one that needs to be changed.
"Killing a mother is child abuse," Mr French said.
"Children have to be protected from abusers."
In England and Wales, people who kill their child’s other parent have their parental rights suspended when they are sentenced.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Women’s Aid CEO Sarah Benson said the Irish Government should introduce similar legislation.
“The idea that one could perpetrate the most appalling betrayal of trust with one’s children by murdering their other parent and then still maintain control over decisions from prison when convicted - in relation to thing such as access to passports, therapy, what school they might go to - that is something that we think absolutely does need to be reviewed,” she said.
“It is, in fact, a recommendation of the very detailed, very extensive independent report on familicide and domestic homicide which was published over a year ago.”
Inheritance
Ms Benson also said the Government should legislate to prevent killers from inheriting money or property from their victims.
“It seems absolutely nonsensical and shocking that that should not be law in this country,” she said.
“But it is, so I think there’s a degree of apathy and I think cases like this and the courage of families speaking up, yet again, to demonstrate that there are things that could really reduce the levels of trauma [for those] who are left behind to pick up the pieces after domestic homicides.
“And I would suggest could be done relatively simply.”
Ms Benson said she believed such legislation could be passed if there is enough “will and focus” on the issue from the Government.
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Main image: Valerie French Kilroy. Image: Supplied.
