Landmark 'Valerie's Law' goes to Cabinet
Valerie French was brutally murdered by her husband.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has brought a memo to Cabinet seeking approval for the new 'Valerie’s Law' legislation to be introduced
The law is named after Valerie French, a mother of three who was killed by her husband James Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, near Islandeady, on June 14, 2019. She was 41 when she died. Ms French was originally from West Cork and worked as a senior occupational therapist in Castlebar.
Her husband received a life sentence for inflicting 57 injuries on Ms French in the horrific knife and hatchet attack.
Valerie French’s family had called for a review of the law to stop people who kill their partners from having parental rights to their children.
Her brother, David French, said that Ireland should follow the lead of the United Kingdom where people who have killed their partners are now unable to have parental rights to their surviving children.
“This legislation is very important for families and someone like Kilroy, who deprived Valerie’s children of a devoted mother, should not have guardianship rights.
“My sister died defending her children and I hope that other families can benefit from Valerie’s Law once it has been implemented,” said David last week.
Mr French is also to establish a trust fund for Valeris’ three children after securing a court order making him the administrator of her estate.
The High Court ruling was made last Monday after the mum-of-three’s killer opposed Mr French’s legal bid to obtain responsibility for her estate.
The court’s decision means the killer will no longer be recognised as the executor of her estate.
The legislation being brought to Cabinet would require an application to be brought before the District Court to remove guardianship of a parent who is convicted of the murder or manslaughter of another parent or guardian.
It states that this should be within six months of a conviction and that the court should order another guardian to be appointed for the child or children.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine proposals “to remove guardianship rights from those convicted of killing their partners or a parent of their child”.
