Fitness blogger reveals domestic violence horror

Blogger Emma Murphy has bravely spoken out about domestic violence. Photo / Facebook

An Irish fitness blogger has posted a disturbing video on social media, revealing a black eye and saying her partner punched her in the face.

Appearing in the now viral video, 26-year-old mother-of-two Emma Murphy described the beatings she received from the man she had thought of as the love of her life.

She told of how the father of her young son and daughter had attacked her when she confronted him after discovering he had cheated on her.

"Last year I found out he cheated on me with one of his clients. I found out in June but he denied it. She contacted me in November and told me she was pregnant. So with the stress I went into labour early, my world was turned upside down.

"You think you know somebody ... I loved him so much that I tried to forgive him and I gave him another chance and I took him back. Unfortunately I found out that he did it again."

His violent reaction left Murphy with shocking injuries.

"He punched me in the face, and it wasn't the first time," she said.

"Last year he split my head open at an event and prior to that he punched me as well an I had a black eye. And for the last year and a half, I've been told that I'm paranoid, I'm a psycho, I'm nuts, my insecurities will kill me one day."

Murphy posted the video in the hope that it would inspire other women suffering from domestic violence to come forward and speak out.

"I finally realised that no, this is not acceptable. No man has the right to put his hand on a woman. No matter how big, how small, no matter where you're from. It is not right to raise a hand to a woman and it's only now that I've realised that," she said.

"Even once is unacceptable, but to be made to feel that it is acceptable is even worse. To be made to feel that you're paranoid or insecure, that's mental torture, and no man should do that to any woman."

The video has now had 6.8 million views and has been shared more than 100,000 times, with many women commenting with their own similar experiences.

Ms Murphy's ex-boyfriend, bodybuilder Francis Usanga, admitted to the Irish Independent that he had an altercation with the young mum and pushed her, however, said he did not punch her.

Up to 40 per cent of women in New Zealand experience physical or sexual violence from a partner during their lifetime, according to womensrefuge.org.nz.

Where to get help:
• Women's Refuge 0800 733 843 (available 24/7)
• Family Violence Information Line 0800 456 450 (available 7 days a week, 9am to 11pm)
• Relationship Services 0800 735 283 (available during business hours)
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (4pm to 6pm weekdays)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• The Word
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

- nzherald.co.nz