Jennie’s Law — the Domestic Violence (Judgements) Register Bill 2026 — has been signed into law in the Republic of Ireland, creating a public register of people convicted of domestic violence against partners. The register will be hosted on the Courts Service website and requires victims' consent before a convicted person can be identified. The law is named after Jennifer Poole, a 24‑year‑old mother murdered in 2021, and follows a campaign led by her brother, Jason, to prevent similar tragedies. Officials in Northern Ireland are monitoring the new law while debate continues over privacy and proportionality.
Jennie’s Law Signed: Ireland Creates Public Register of Domestic Violence Convictions
'My sister is not just another statistic' - Jennie's Law is signed
The Republic of Ireland has formally signed into law the Domestic Violence (Judgements) Register Bill 2026 — widely known as "Jennie’s Law" — creating a publicly accessible register of people convicted of domestic violence against a partner or former partner.
The law is named for Jennifer (Jennie) Poole, a 24‑year‑old mother of two who was murdered in her Dublin home in 2021. Jennie was stabbed seven times and died in hospital; her former partner, Gavin Murphy, pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to life in prison in April 2022. Murphy had a previous conviction in 2015 for attacking a former partner and her mother with a knife, for which he served two years in prison.
What the New Register Will Do
The public register will be hosted on the Courts Service website and will list those convicted of domestic violence against partners or former partners. Crucially, the Bill requires that victims and survivors provide consent before a convicted person can be identified by name on the publicly available list — a measure intended to balance transparency with privacy and safety considerations.
A Family’s Campaign for Change
Jennie’s brother, Jason Poole, led the campaign for the law after Murphy’s guilty plea. Jason has said Jennie did not know about Murphy’s earlier conviction when they met in 2020 and that, as the relationship progressed, she became isolated from friends and family. She ended the relationship a week before she was killed.
"If Jennifer had known what she was going to put herself or her children through, knowing his past, I can 100% say she wouldn't have been in a relationship with him," Jason told BBC News NI. "We wanted to make sure that Jennifer wasn't just another statistic."
Jason met politicians and campaigned for legal change to help prevent other families from suffering similar tragedies. He says the register provides a lasting legacy so Jennie’s children will know their mother’s death helped create protections for others.
How It Differs From Clare’s Law
Jennie’s Law has been compared to the UK's Clare’s Law, which allows people to apply to police to ask whether a current or prospective partner has a history of abusive behaviour. Clare’s Law has been criticised in some cases for inconsistent disclosure by police.
In contrast, Jennie’s Law establishes a public, searchable register of convictions (subject to the victim-consent provision) rather than relying solely on police disclosure. Proponents argue this is a more preventative approach that empowers potential victims and families to make informed decisions.
Reactions and Wider Debate
Nuala Lappin, a former domestic violence officer with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), told The Nolan Show that Northern Ireland should consider a similarly public register, arguing it is more preventive than reactive. Justice Minister Naomi Long said officials in Northern Ireland are "closely" watching developments in the Republic and remain open to comparable legislation, while stressing that any move north of the border would require careful legal and proportionality checks because of the public nature of online disclosure.
The signing of Jennie’s Law has sparked debate about transparency, victims’ rights, privacy and the best tools to prevent domestic violence. Campaigners say the register could save lives by ensuring people know about prior convictions before entering relationships, while critics highlight the need to safeguard victims and respect legal proportionality.
Jason Poole acknowledged the emotional toll of the campaign and said he is still grieving. "I had no choice but to see my sister laid into the ground because of failures in a system that wasn't there to protect her," he said. He added that with the register now in place, he hopes to begin processing his loss while knowing Jennie’s death led to change.
The new law marks a significant policy shift in Ireland's approach to domestic violence prevention and transparency, and other jurisdictions are closely watching how the register is implemented and its impact on victim safety and public awareness.
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