-owner fears for her life, protection order had been granted day earlier
“I had to evacuate because he is on the loose and I’m afraid for my life and the life of my children and family”. Patrena O’Brien moved out of her home because of her fear of the man she had called her husband for two and a half years.
On Saturday, she again made a report to a police station because her shop at ‘D’ Field, Sophia was destroyed in a fire and she suspected that he had done it. Neighbours noticed the flames at about 3 am early Saturday but there was nothing they could do. However, the Fire Service managed to save O’Brien’s home which was being threatened by the flames.
The 36-year-old woman had moved out months before because she feared for her life. On Friday, a protection order that she had applied for, to prevent her former reputed husband – an-ex soldier – from interfering with her, was granted. But things had started to go wrong months before.
She recalled that back in 2007, the man was slapped with several charges because, among other things, he hit her. However, O’Brien recalled, due to days lost waiting for the case to move forward, her then employer said that it would have to be either court or work. So the woman dropped the matter “but I regret it now”.
Last May, things escalated and the man damaged her little shop, causing $170,000 in losses. But one night, as he waited for her in the neighbourhood, he was held by a friend, who was dropping her off and handed over to the police, who had been seeking him. He was later granted bail. O’Brien’s mother advised her not to go back to the building.
The man, who is unemployed, had also broken and entered the home on several occasions taking a number of items. She had applied for a protection order against him and this was granted on Friday.
At 4:30 am on Saturday, O’Brien recalled, she was awoken by a phone call and was informed that her shop was on fire. She later reported it to the Turkeyen Police station. The woman stated that she had lost $400,000 in groceries and other items. She had taken a loan from the Institute for Private Enterprise Development (IPED), she noted.
“I suffer great losses”, she stated. O’Brien is the mother of two. She said that she remains fearful and up to yesterday afternoon, her former reputed husband had not been caught.
