Businesswoman Norah Casey reveals she was ‘battered’ for nine years by abusive ex-partner

SUCCESSFUL businesswoman Norah Casey has bravely opened up about the violence she suffered in a previous relationship.

In an emotional interview with Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ’s ‘Late Late Show’ last night, Ms Casey (inset) revealed how she was savagely beaten by an ex-partner. She met this man while working as a nurse in London when she was in her twenties.

But the abuse began early on in the relationship. “We’d only had a couple of dates but he was already teaching me which glass to use and how to use the cutlery. On the third date, I mentioned that the chap I was going out with before was also called [the same name].

“He slammed his wine glass down and said ‘this is not a joke, you’re my woman now and I’m not going to share you with anyone’,” she said. Although Ms Casey said she was loath to say the man was a monster, she spoke about a number of violent incidents at his hands – including one instance after going out for dinner. “After dinner, I didn’t want to get in the car because he was drinking. I refused to get into the car and he left angry and drove off. I followed him but I had no keys to the house and, for 30 minutes, I was trying to get in. “Eventually he pulled me into the house and battered me senseless... When I was on the ground on the floor in the hall I could hardly see but I could see him going for a knife in the kitchen.” She later woke up to find her then-partner standing above her with the knife, but he apologised. Six months after this incident, Ms Carey found the courage to leave him.

The Women’s Aid helpline can be contacted Freephone on 1800 341 900