The mother-daughter Halloween costume bit isn’t for everyone, but we think twinning is winning! If you’re struggling with ideas on what to dress up as this spooky season, why not cast your eye over some iconic pairings whose looks you can recreate with your little one. We’ve rounded up five iconic duos to dress up […]
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There’s nothing cosier than cuddling up with the kids on the couch to watch a family favourite- and this Sunday October 27 Ireland’s Fittest Family is back- just in time for the winter evenings. Everyone’s favourite celebrity judges Davy Fitzgerald, Anna Geary, Donncha O’Callaghan and Sonia O’Sullivan are back with host Laura Fox to put […]
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A WOMAN who suffered horrific abuse by the hands of her own father has revealed how she survived her traumatic childhood.
Jeni Haynes, who lives in Australia, shared how she developed over 2,500 personalities to cope with her father’s vile abuse that took place over countless years.
Jeni has opened up to 60 Minutes Australia on how her Dissociative Identity Disorder saved her and got her father convicted of the abuse he made her endure.
She said: “My dad inflicted, chose to inflict severe, sadistic, violent abuse that was completely unavoidable, unescapable and life threatening.
“And he did this, he chose to do this everyday of my entire childhood.”
Jeni took her father, Richard Haynes, to court for repeatedly raping and abusing her as a young girl reports the BBC.
And while Jeni was the only woman in the witness stand that day – the court heard testimonies from six different people.
To cope with the horror of her life, Jeni’s mind came up with an extraordinary way to protect her – creating new identities for her to detach from the pain.
The abuse she suffered was so extreme that Jeni says she developed over 2,500 personalities to cope – including a four-year-old girl called Symphony.
My dad’s abuse was calculated and it was planned. It was deliberate and he enjoyed every minute of it.
Jeni Haynes
It’s believed to be the first case in the world where a victim with diagnosed Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) – or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) – has testified in their other personalities and secured a conviction.
“We weren’t scared. We had waited such a long time to tell everyone exactly what he did to us and now he couldn’t shut us up,” she said.
Speaking to the Australian TV show, Jeni, now a doctor and author revealed her father was ‘vile’ and made an ‘army‘ of personalities to protect herself and get him convicted for his monstrous crimes.
Jeni and her family moved from Bexleyheath in London to Australia when she was just four, but her father’s abuse had already begun.
The brave woman waived her anonymity rights, as a victim of abuse, so her father could be identified.
“My dad’s abuse was calculated and it was planned. It was deliberate and he enjoyed every minute of it,” Jeni told the court in a victim impact statement.
Jeni was also denied medical care for her injuries from beatings and sexual abuse, which have developed into serious lifelong conditions.
If you suspect a child is being abused or are seeking help for child abuse in the UK, there are several organisations and resources available:
It’s important to take action if you suspect a child is being abused. These organisations can provide guidance on what steps to take and offer the necessary support.
Now aged 54, Jeni has irreparable damage to her eyesight, jaw, bowel, anus and coccyx. These have required extensive surgeries including a colostomy operation in 2011.
The abuse would continue until Jeni was 11, when the family moved back to the UK. Her parents divorced shortly after, in 1984. She believes no-one, not even her mother, was aware of what she was going through.
Jeni first created Symphony, a four-year-old girl who, she says, exists in her own time reality.
She told the BBC he was in fact abusing symphony when he was abusing her.
But then Symphony also created personalities to help her cope with the abuse – thousands of them.
Jeni has revealed that there is one called Muscles – a teenager styled like Billy Idol. He is tall and wears clothes which show off his strong arms. He’s calm and protective.
Volcano who is very tall and strong, and clad from top to toe in black leather. He has bleached blond hair.
Jeni was allowed to testify in court as Symphony as well as five other personalities sharing the different types of abuse she endured – and finally, ten years after reporting the crimes got to see justice be served.
Richard Haynes pleaded guilty to more than two dozen child sexual abuse charges
Jeni sat metres away from her father in court to see him sentenced to 45 years. Haynes, who is suffering from poor health, will serve at least 33 years before he is eligible for parole.
The clip was shared on their TikTok account and was watched by more than 2 million people.
People were moved by Jeni’s story, which left them heartbroken for her.
One person wrote: “God bless you Jeni.”
Another commented: “You are an amazing survivor Jeni. I wish you all the best in your life.”
“Her brain was the only one trying to protect her,” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “It’s amazing how the brain tries to protect you as much as it can.”
“The poor poor woman. We truly failed her,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “People need to understand this is real and more than life-impacting. These dear folks need support and understanding all their lives.”
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