Ryan Tubridy found himself struggling to hold back his emotions in an intense interview with a perpetrator of domestic abuse live on air this morning. He interviewed the man, known only as Chris on his 2fm radio show, and by the sounds of what this fella was saying, Tubridy's reaction was very much justified.
The caller told him; “There’s nothing small about the situation, but there was the verbal side of the abuse. There would be slaps, punches – pretty much along those lines really. There’ll be something in your psyche that could lead you to pick a fight, or something said which triggers you in some way."
When Tubridy further questioned how he could behave this way he responded saying self confidence was likely the root of the problem. 'Chris' went on to say; “The first time was a major shock to her. She was married to a guy that she loved and was looking to the future. As is usual I promised that I would never do it again, and believed that I might. But it came again and again and again."
It came to a point where his wife ended up in hospital and Chris was convicted. When Ryan heard that his wife had continued to stay with him through this time, he lost it: “I’m trying to be really measured here. We appreciate you coming on to tell the story, and yet... every time.... if you did that to somebody I loved I swear to god I would have personally called over and broke your legs. If it was my sister, my mother, I’d have been over to your house. I couldn’t help myself. I wouldn’t let you out the door. I know that’s violent, and I know that’s wrong. But I think it’s man-to-man".
A shocked Tubridy did manage to thank Chis for being on the show and speaking out about the issues. We can only hope Chris's wife is as far away from him now as she can get, and that Chris is getting the rehabilitation he so obviously needs.
