Emma Murphy: I will have to work more than ever as a single mum

Brave Emma Murphy (26) posted a video on Monday alleging that she had been physically assaulted by her ex-partner, Francis Usanga (28).

The five-minute clip has been viewed more than six million times worldwide.

Mr Usanga, a gym owner and budding actor, has admitted to having a row with Emma, but said he "pushed" her and did not hit her.

Emma, a fitness instructor from Finglas, said that she's unsure of her future plans now as a single mother.

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"I don't know how I'm going to do it. I need to work now more than ever," she told TV3's Midday.

"It will be tough, but it will benefit them [her children] in the long run because I'm going to be happier."

The mum-of-two urged any women experiencing abuse to speak out.

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"I didn't think it was a big deal, but it's a huge deal. I've realised that from all the mails I've got from people," she said.

"Do what I did: go to your family and friends and tell them you need them around you."

In the in-depth interview with Elaine Crowley, Emma spoke about the effect she fears it will have on her children.

"Looking at them in the morning, it's so hard," she said.

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"We all want the perfect family. My little boy, he knows. He's 18 months, he knows who his mammy and daddy are.

"I'm so sad because they know they're not going to have their mammy and daddy together and it breaks my heart.

"It'll take a long time to get over that. I never imagined my life without him.

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"You hang on to the good in people. He had so much good, I held on to the good, I was in love with the good," she added.

"You begin to believe, maybe it's my fault. Maybe we're this way because of me.

"On Friday, when this happened, I realised, no it's not me.

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"My close friends and family knew, but people on Facebook were shocked. They see my life on Facebook and it's happy families, but at times it wasn't so happy."

Emma said that she was "gobsmacked" by the reaction to her video - and she has been contacted by people around the world who want to say thanks.

"I'm so proud that I did it. It was such a nerve-wracking thing to do," Emma added.

"I had to turn my phone off I was so overwhelmed. I couldn't talk, my family were here with me, I didn't know what to do."

There has been huge international interest in Emma's story and she has been approached by the producers of ITV's Loose Women show with a view to appearing on the programme.

In a separate interview with the Dublin Gazette, Emma said that her close family were devastated by her honest video.

Protect

"My dad's heart was broken when he saw me, that's the way a dad should be," she said.

"I just want to protect [my kids] and to show them that this is not acceptable from anyone. It's not acceptable to touch a woman."

Meanwhile, Emma said that Usanga has not tried to contact her since the allegations.

"Physically, I feel really, really drained. I have lost a lot of weight over the last few days and I'm very emotional that it has come to this," she said.

"I still love him with all my heart and it kills me to think we're just not going to be together again.

"He doesn't deserve to be with me. I know that with all my heart, but it's sad that it got to this, and it's sad that our relationship was in so much turmoil. We've two gorgeous kids and we're just going to be miles apart now."