When she was a small child, Sinn Féin Senator Nicole Ryan lived in a home where domestic abuse was commonplace. On one particular night, her mother's former partner threatened to kill them and her mother risked her life to save the children.

Recently, Nicole spoke in the Seanad and was sucessful in getting an amendment added to the revised domestic abuse laws, if the amendment suceeds, the presence of children will be considered an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing an abuser.

Katie and Fran speak to Nicole about her life as a young child and how years later the impact of domestic abuse still affects her.