BRAVE SURVIVOR OPENS UP ON DOMESTIC ABUSE HORROR

A DOMESTIC abuse survivor said she has been let down by the justice system - as her attacker will walk free from prison in less than two months.

- BY PAUL HEALY Crime Correspondent

Emma Hallahan suffered a horrific sustained assault at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Anthony Mackessy, 42. The thug dragged her up and down stairs by her hair, beat her, held her at knifepoint and told her he'd kill her at her home in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, in January last year.

Last week, HSE worker Mackessy, who pleaded guilty to assault, was jailed to just one year behind bars for his shocking crime.

However, thanks to standard remission and time served, having gone into custody in April, he will walk free on January 5.

Emma told this paper: "That is not justice."

She also revealed how twisted Mackessy liked to bring her to infamous murder sites including the house in Youghal, Co Cork, where Tina Satchwell was killed and buried.

Emma said: "He would take me to sites where women had been murdered. So he would take me to sit outside Tina's house.

"He always wanted to take me to Schull where Sophie Toscan Du Plantier was murdered. All the signs were there. I remember the detective on my case said to me, 'If you don't get out of this relationship, you will be another number."

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Emma, who initially went back to Mackessy after being assaulted, was terrified of him and it took everything she had to eventually take him to court and see him jailed.

She recalled: "He took no accountability for what he did to me. He said it was only a Section 3 assault and, I should have killed you.

"I was terrified of him and so I went to court with him on April 8 pretending I was standing with him.

"I had a safety plan in place with the detective and the women's refuge. But I was terrified going down in that car. I felt I was going to be sick."

Emma said she is fearful of Mackessy's imminent release and must move house to stay safe.