“I suppose from early on there was red flags that I didn't want to see, if I'm being perfectly honest,” says MEP Kathleen Funchion of her relationship with Sean Tyrell, who yesterday lost an appeal against the sentence he received for offences under Section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020, also known as Coco’s Law.

The appeal refusal and increase in Tyrell’s sentence for sending malicious and defamatory messages about his then partner marks the end of a three and a half year legal process for the Sinn Fein MEP, whose relationship with Tyrell began in 2016 when she was a candidate and he was a volunteer in her constituency office.

Tyrell’s behaviour became increasingly coercive and the couple broke up and got back together numerous times, leading her to eventually approach her local women’s refuge for support.

A professional with a public and media profile in a demanding job, she struggled to reconcile the public version of herself and the private version in which her confidence was shattered and she questioned every decision.

“It didn't matter what you did in this situation. It was always going to be like this, because this person just fundamentally, you know, was a controlling person.

“It wasn't about how many phone calls you made to any men in your life. It was about them and their behaviour. And I think if I can get that message out there, I would love to do that,” says Funchion now.

Read the full story here: Kathleen Funchion 'feels vindicated again' as ex-partner's sentence is raised for Coco's Law offence

Contact Women’s Aid on womensaid.ie or by calling 1800 341900.

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