These Case studies are from survivors who attended the presentations:
If it hurts it isn’t love

Do these sound familiar? Can you identify with them? Read the report from teens who have experienced violence at home/relationship.

A: I was 13 years old when she got her first black eye.
My mother told me “it is because he loves you why he hit you”.
I became pregnant aged 15 years.

As the abuse continued he kept me isolated from my siblings and other family members. I was too embarrassed to speak of my abuse to my mum, I had no friends, and I was alone.

B: I knew that being abused was wrong but I felt too embarrassed to confide in my friends, so I allowed it to continue believing I had no choice.

C: I returned from work to find the front door of the house kicked in. My frightened face was hidden behind the net curtains.

The matter was reported to the police and they visited on a number of occasions and tried to get me to give a statement. I could not. I was too frightened and the police were unable to proceed with their investigation. They concluded that he intimidated me into not giving a statement.

D: I had my first child at 15 and was not able to complete my education. I had a much-disrupted relationship with my mother. My partner took over full responsibility of me and our child. He took me away from the family home, it meant that he had full control over me.

The verbal abuse was the first sign followed by jealousy, and accusations of me looking at other men. I was still a teen when I got pregnant with the second child. I gave birth to our second son and was largely dependent on him. The abuse became more frequent, the slaps, putting me down as if I was worthless.

His behaviour got so severe that he revealed his threats to kill me with a machete, and threaten to dispose of my body. I can still feel the coldness of the machete pressing against my forehead. He finally made attempt to kill me; he used an iron bar to beat me unconscious. The attack happened in the street, I tried to leave him and he was not happy that I was taking control of me.

Police were called Criminal Justice became involved, he was held on remand and finally he was given a Community sentence. It was only then that the abuse stopped.

Years have passed and I am still haunted by the brutal attack that could have ended my life. The boys have grown up and I am getting on with my life. He is not he is abusing his current partner she gave birth to twins.