Government to Consider Jennie's Law: Proposed Public Register for Domestic Violence Convictions

Government is set to consider groundbreaking legislation today that would establish a public register for individuals convicted of serious domestic violence offences, marking a significant shift in how the state addresses intimate partner abuse.

The proposed law, known as Jennie's Law, is being brought to Cabinet for approval by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan on 20 October 2025. If approved, it would create an online register of court judgements for those convicted on indictment of serious domestic violence crimes including murder, manslaughter and serious assault against current or former partners.

Unlike similar schemes in other jurisdictions, Ireland's proposed approach centres the register on publicly accessible court records rather than confidential police disclosure. The Courts Service would manage the online database, which would be specifically labelled as "Domestic Violence Register Judgements" and linked to support services for those accessing the information.

The proposed legislation includes three critical safeguards designed to balance public safety with individual rights. First, victims must provide explicit consent before their abuser's conviction can be published on the register. Second, trial judges would retain ultimate discretion over whether to include a judgement, allowing case-by-case evaluation. Third, convicted individuals may apply to have their entry removed after three years, with courts considering rehabilitation efforts and the victim's views before making any decision.

Jason Poole, brother of Jennifer Poole:

"People knew and nobody ever told her that Gavin was dangerous. She never would've dated him."

The law takes its name from Jennifer Poole, a 24-year-old mother and healthcare worker from Finglas, Dublin, who was murdered by her ex-partner Gavin Murphy on 17 April 2021. Murphy had 13 prior convictions, including a two-year sentence for a knife assault on a previous partner, information that remained hidden from Jennifer throughout their relationship.

Following his sister's death, Jason Poole led a national campaign that gathered nearly 28,000 petition signatures and secured political support from figures including Senator Fiona O'Loughlin and Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan. The campaign initially sought to replicate the UK's Clare's Law, which allows police to disclose information about partners' abuse histories through confidential channels.

However, Irish legislators pivoted away from that model due to concerns about constitutional rights to privacy and fair procedures, as well as potential conflicts with data protection regulations. Department of Justice analysis in 2023 warned that a police-led disclosure scheme could expose victims to "unacceptable" risk, as offenders would need to be informed in advance about disclosures to meet their constitutional rights, potentially triggering further abuse.

Minister Jim O'Callaghan:

"If a person is convicted of a serious criminal offence before the courts, that is a public conviction and the public are entitled to know about that conviction. In Ireland, justice is required to be administered in public."

The proposed legislation would build upon the Domestic Violence Act 2018, which introduced the criminal offence of coercive control and strengthened protections for victims. The register would take serious convictions secured under existing laws and add a crucial layer of public transparency.

An initial attempt to codify the campaign's goals through the Sex Offenders (Amendment) (Coercive Control) Bill 2023 stalled in the Oireachtas and dissolved with the Dáil. The current proposal represents a fresh approach grounded in the principle that court judgements are public records.

The register would only include individuals convicted on indictment for serious offences, meaning cases heard in the Circuit Court or Central Criminal Court. This high threshold ensures focus on the most dangerous offenders whilst maintaining clear legal standards.

If approved by Cabinet and enacted, implementation challenges will include ensuring victims feel supported when making consent decisions, preventing misuse of the publicly accessible information, and maintaining robust processes for the three-year review mechanism.

The proposal has received widespread support across the political spectrum, with TDs from multiple parties calling for its introduction during Dáil debates on gender-based violence. Minister O'Callaghan has also committed to introducing complementary legislation known as Valerie's Law, which would remove guardianship rights from parents who murder the other parent of their children.

Jason Poole and his family have continued their advocacy throughout the legislative process, maintaining that had such a register existed in 2021, Jennifer might still be alive today.