Updates
Updates
2025-02-26: Justice Minister announces Memo to Government in March to implement Valerie's Law
During a Dail debate on gender based violence brought forward by Ruth Coppinger TD, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan announced that a memorandum will go to Government next month seeking an amendment to the Guardianship of Infants Act to implement “Valerie’s Law”, which would remove guardianship rights from people who killed their spouse.
The motion and full debate can be read at https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2025-02-26/8/
Media coverage has been extensive and is listed here.
Left Front: Ruth Coppinger TD People Before Profit-Solidarity, David French, Donna McCarthy and survivors of gender-based-violence and their supporters at the Dail for the motion on Gender Based Violence on February 26th, 2025
2025-02-10: Valerie's Law called for at European Level
Kathleen Funchion SF MEP called for Valerie's Law when speaking in the European Parliament today.
2025-01-22: Parliamentary Question on proposals to legislate for the removal of guardianship rights from guardians who have murdered their child's parent
Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice to provide details on the Government's proposals to legislate for the removal of guardianship rights from guardians who have murdered their child's parent; whether this is intended to be a standalone Bill or as part of larger reforms; and to provide a timeline for such reform. [1963/25] Answer
2025-01-19: Court application to remove kilroy as executor of Valerie's estate
Court fight looms to end wife-killer James Kilroy’s grip on estate of his victim Valerie French - Sunday Independent and Sunday World
COURT ACTION Family of mum Valerie French murdered by husband James Kilroy in legal bid to stop killer having control of her estate The Sun
2025-01-16: Inclusion in Draft Programme for Government 2025
The draft Programme-for-Government-2025.pdf was published today and includes the following text on page 121:
"Examine proposals to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners or a parent of their child as part of the ongoing work to implement appropriate recommendations from the Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews."
2025-01-07: "For Valerie" to be published in May
The book describing the crime and aftermath is to be published in May.
More info here
2025-01-06: Upfront with Katie Hannon
On Nollag na mBan Valerie's Law was covered as part of the Upfront with Katie Hannon program addressing Violence against Women. The program also featured Claire Lott (mother of Nadine Lott) and rape survivor Bláthnaid Raleigh.
The panel was Jim O'Callaghan FF TD, Kathleen Funchion SF MEP and Sarah Benson CEO of Women's Aid. The panel was supportive of the call for Valerie's Law. Sinn Fein subsequently issued a press release on this (ref). The program can be seen on RTE player and is linked from the Media Coverage part of valerie.rip or via this link.
2024-11-15: Please raise Valerie's Law with political candidates in the General Election
On Wednesday November 20th the fifth meeting of the Family consultation group meeting at the Dept of Justice on the Study on Familicide & Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews (which includes the recommendation for "Valerie's Law"). The results of this series of meetings will be available to the next government at the end of 2024.
Canvassing for the General Election to form the 34th Dáil is underway. Expressions of support for implementing Valerie's Law have been received from numerous TDs and all of the main political parties.
Please mention "Valerie's Law" (legislation to remove child guardianship from killers) to politicians looking for your vote and consider their answer in your voting choices on November 29th.
2024-10-25: Response to Government Guardianship Rights Paper
On Monday Oct 21st the Family Consultation Meeting at the Dept of Justice on the Study on Familicide & Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews received the Government Guardianship Rights Paper which had originally been planned for the September meeting.
The paper discusses some areas around guardianship. Most are irrelevant to implementation of “Valerie’s Law” such as Risk Assessment and Guardianship Payments. Much can be done by the Courts on their own initiative and inside Tusla policy with use of existing powers rather than adding complications by codifying this in legislation.
The conclusion to the Government Guardianship Rights Paper simply restates the 2023 recommendation 7.3.18.4 (which would be Valerie’s Law)
Conclusion:
The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 requires amending to ensure that a parent convicted of the murder or manslaughter of the other parent does not retain guardianship of the surviving child or children. ….
It goes on to say:
In principle, guardianship should pass to the deceased parent’s next of kin (other than
the perpetrator), subject to the overriding consideration being the best interests of the child as expressed by the children concerned where this is possible and appropriate. …
This is useful guidance for the Court when appointing guardians. The main thing the Court should do is immediately appoint the victim’s family as a notice party.
In summary the discussion paper from October 2024 restates the original recommendation, does not raise any blockers and mentions some other issues in this area. I would urge the government to now move directly to drafting legislation implementing Recommendation 7.3.18.4. (Valerie’s Law).
2024-09-26: Question raised in the Dail by Mick Barry TD
Question asked by Mick Barry TD to the Minister of Justice on Guardianship Law Reform (Valerie's Law):
OireachtasTV202409262024-09-18: Written questions raised in the Dail
Written Question:
516. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 1124 of 9 September 2024, when the paper specifically related to guardianship rights if a parent is in custody, accused of, or serving a sentence for, the murder or manslaughter of the other parent, will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36444/24]
Minister for Justice: As the Deputy is aware, a team has been established in my Department to review recommendations in the ‘Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews’ that are not already being progressed as part of our work to tackle domestic abuse and protect victims.
These include a recommendation on restricting parental rights in cases of domestic homicide. In the case of this recommendation, the issues to be considered include the role and power of Tusla to take appropriate child protection action in emergency situations, the importance of putting the rights and voice of the child at the centre of our responses, and ensuring that nothing is done that could prejudice a trial.
In reviewing all these recommendations, the team are in consultation with stakeholder groups that have been established to support this work, involving relevant officials, civil society partners and most importantly the families of victims that contributed to the review. These consultations will inform how the recommendations are taken forward.
I understand that the paper on the Guardianship Rights will be presented to the consultation groups in the coming weeks for discussion which will inform the final recommendations made once the consultation process has concluded. I expect that the consensus recommendations of the three groups on this and all the other issues being examined will be submitted to me by the end of the year.
There are no current plans to publish the discussion papers that are being presented to the consultation groups throughout this project, including the paper on the Guardianship Rights.
Further Information:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024-09-18/516/#pq_516
2024-09-09
Written Question:
In response to Parliamentary Questions asked by multiple TDs and Senators the Minister for Justice has given the following response:
--------------------
Minister for Justice: The ‘Study on Familicide and Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews’ was commissioned by my Department and involved an independent study lead who consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, including family members of victims, non-governmental organisations, and State agencies.
The review was brought to Government and published in May 2023.
A significant number of the recommendations made in the review are already being progressed as part of our work to tackle domestic abuse and protect victims.
A team has been established in my Department to review the other recommendations made in the review. These include a recommendation on restricting parental rights in cases of domestic homicide. In the case of this recommendation, the issues to be considered include the role and power of Tusla to take appropriate child protection action in emergency situations, the importance of putting the rights and voice of the child at the centre of our responses, and ensuring that nothing is done that could prejudice a trial.
In reviewing all these recommendations, the team are in consultation with stakeholder groups that have been established to support this work, involving relevant officials, civil society partners and most importantly the families of victims that contributed to the review. These consultations will inform how the recommendations are taken forward.
Meetings with the stakeholders have taken place in June/early July and in August of this year, and I understand that officials in my Department are currently drafting a paper specifically related to guardianship rights if a parent is in custody, accused of, or serving a sentence for, the murder or manslaughter of the other parent.
Further Information:
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2024-09-09/1077
Thanks to TDs Pa Daly (Sinn Féin), Neasa Hourigan (Green Party), Matt Carthy (Sinn Féin), Paul Murphy (Solidarity - People Before Profit), Michael Lowry (Independent), Catherine Connolly(Independent), Michael Healy-Rae (Independent), Christopher O'Sullivan (Fianna Fáil) and the other TDs and Senators who have highlighted this issue through direct communication.
2024-07-29: Social Democrats support for Valerie's Law
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has backed calls for a new law that would suspend the parental rights of those found guilty of domestic homicide.
Deputy Cairns made her comments after James Kilroy received a life sentence today for the brutal murder of his wife Valerie French in June 2019.
Further info:
"Cairns preparing Bill to suspend parental rights of those convicted of domestic homicide."