New Irish domestic violence register named for Jennifer Poole after her murder

The Republic of Ireland has approved the Domestic Violence (Judgements) Register Bill 2026, known as Jennie’s Law, after the 2021 murder of Jennifer Poole in Dublin, her brother Jason said during the campaign for the law. The register will place those convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner on a public list hosted by the Courts Service, with victims and survivors required to give consent before a convicted person can be named.

Jennifer Poole, a 24-year-old mother of two, was stabbed seven times in her Dublin home in 2021 and later died in hospital. Her former partner Gavin Murphy pleaded guilty to her murder and received a life sentence in April 2022. Murphy had a prior conviction for attacking a former partner and her mother with a knife in 2015, for which he served two years in prison.

Jason Poole said his sister had not been aware of Murphy’s past when their relationship began in 2020, and that she became increasingly isolated from friends and family early in the relationship. He stated that if Jennifer had known about Murphy’s earlier conviction she would not have entered the relationship and would not have been killed.

After Murphy’s guilty plea, Jason met with politicians to propose measures aimed at preventing similar cases. He said the new law creates a legacy for Jennifer and offers support to victims and families by making convictions accessible through a public register.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The bill creates a publicly available register on the Courts Service website listing persons convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner. The register differs from the UK’s Clare’s Law, which allows police to disclose an individual’s history in response to a request; Jennie’s Law will place convictions on a public register, subject to consent from victims or survivors before naming the convicted person. Jason Poole framed the register as a preventive tool that could have informed his sister or her family about Murphy’s past.

Nuala Lappin, a former domestic violence officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said Northern Ireland should consider a similar public register, describing Clare’s Law as more reactive and the register as empowering potential victims to make earlier decisions. Justice Minister Naomi Long said officials are watching developments in the Republic and would assess proportionality and disclosure issues before considering comparable legislation in Northern Ireland.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Jennie’s Law (Domestic Violence (Judgements) Register Bill 2026) approved in the Republic of Ireland and signed by the President.
• Register will list people convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner on the Courts Service website, with victim or survivor consent required to name the convicted person.
• Law was prompted by the 2021 murder of 24-year-old Jennifer Poole by her former partner, who had a prior conviction for a knife attack.