Jessica Laverack, a talented hairdresser with a vibrant social life, tragically ended her own life after enduring years of domestic abuse. Her mother, Phyllis Daly, 67, recounts Jessica’s journey from a bright, bubbly personality to someone completely transformed by the horrors she faced in her relationship with bodybuilder Patrick Walsh.
A Promising Life Cut Short
Jessica’s life seemed perfect from the outside. Jessica had a love of horses and fashion and was always very social. “She just had the most affectionate and fun nature. She was so bright, bubbly, but her personality changed completely,” Phyllis recalls [via Yahoo News]. The change began when Jessica started dating Walsh in 2014. Allegations against Walsh include violence, sexual abuse, and controlling behavior, all of which profoundly impacted Jessica.
On 2 February 2018, Jessica took her own life at the age of 34. The coroner’s conclusion that “the underlying cause of her illness [was] domestic abuse” marked a significant moment, as it is believed to be the first time in the UK that a coroner has directly linked suicide to domestic abuse.
Justice for Jessica Laverack
In the wake of Jessica’s death, Phyllis Daly has become a vocal advocate for harsher penalties against abusers whose actions drive victims to suicide. She supports Sharon Holland, whose daughter Chloe Holland also took her own life after suffering abuse, in campaigning for a new offence of “manslaughter by coercive control.”
Statistics highlight the severe risk faced by victims of domestic abuse. Women experiencing such abuse are three times more likely to attempt suicide. However, only one abuser has been charged with manslaughter in these circumstances. In 2017, Nicholas Allen received a 10-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of Justene Reece, who took her own life as a “direct result” of his actions.
Patrick Walsh’s Controlling Behavior
Jessica started dating Walsh in 2014 in Rotherham. Phyllis observed disturbing changes in her daughter’s behavior. She noted that Jessica, who once bought designer clothes, began shopping at charity shops for second-hand items, indicating Walsh’s financial control over her.
Phyllis said that Jessica had to eat separate meals; Walsh would have steaks, but Jessica was forbidden from touching his food. Jessica reported to the police that Walsh had strangled her until she lost consciousness. Phyllis recounted being called to the house where Jessica spent an hour and a half describing the horrific abuse she endured to a police officer. She said she was afraid for her life.
In 2017, Jessica fled to a new home in Beverley, East Yorkshire, to escape Walsh. Despite being categorized as “high risk” at an East Riding Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC), a system error allowed her to fall through the cracks. Phyllis recounts, “She had sleep deprivation, night terrors. The perpetrator of violence just played on her mind over and over again, which made her sleep deprived. And that impact on her mental health just put her at high risk for suicide” [via Yahoo News].
A Heartbreaking End
Walsh discovered Jessica’s new address through a bank statement and began contacting her again. He sent a letter and showed up at her home, even attempting to take her pet dog. “He found her, and when she believed he was going to kill her, we were begging everybody for help,” Phyllis says. Walsh was not arrested, and Jessica ultimately took her own life.
Phyllis, represented by lawyer Sophie Naftalin, pursued a forensic inquest into Jessica’s death. After five years, in June 2022, the family received a landmark ruling that confirmed the “underlying cause of her illness [was] domestic abuse.”
Despite the ruling, Walsh never faced charges for his abuse of Jessica. He denied all allegations during the inquest, claiming they “very much loved each other” and had plans for a future together. For Phyllis, Jessica’s loss remains an unending sorrow, but she continues to fight for justice and recognition of the link between domestic abuse and suicide.
Phyllis Daly’s advocacy underscores the need for systemic changes to address the severe impact of domestic abuse. By pushing for new legislation and harsher penalties, she hopes to prevent other families from enduring similar tragedies.
Featured image: Jessica Laverack. Credit: Phyllis Daly
