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Emma Murphy: People across the world have thanked me after abuse video was viewed six million times
Brave mum-of-two Emma Murphy has been contacted by people from all around the world to say 'thank you' after her emotional online video.
Emma (26), posted her video on Monday, alleging that she had been physically assaulted by her ex-partner and urged victims of domestic abuse to seek help.
The video has now been viewed worldwide more than six million times.
Emma's former partner and the father of their two children, Francis Usanga (28), has admitted that he had a row with Emma, but says he pushed her and did not strike her.
He has now "gone to ground for a few days" in a bid to escape the media spotlight, according to his colleagues at his Dublin gym, FX Fitness in Santry.
Emma yesterday said she has been overwhelmed by the response to her homemade video.
Emma Murphy goes through a range of emotions in this series of screengrabs from the video she posted on Facebook which was recorded on the stairs of her home in Ballymun
"I needed to be a good role model for my kids and I needed the strength from somewhere and by posting the video that I did I've reached so many people. People all around the world are contacting me saying 'thank you', 'thank you'," she said.
"It's so hard because every woman wants the perfect family. No family's perfect but looking at my little boy, it kills me," Emma told TV3 in an interview to be broadcast later today.
"I'm so saddened because they're not going to have their mammy and daddy anymore together," she added.
"In my head I knew I needed to get away from this. It was very unhealthy. I knew I needed to break away."
Such has been the international interest in Emma's story that she has been approached by a UK television broadcaster with a view to appearing on an afternoon show with a reach of millions of viewers.
Emma encouraged anyone who might be suffering domestic abuse to stand up for themselves and seek help.
"I've realised it's a huge deal because of the amount of mails I've got from people. My best advice is to do what I did. I ran straight to my family and friends and said 'I need you all around me'," she said.
"That gave me the strength and the courage."
Emma's ex Francis Usanga claims that he didn't punch her, but did push her.
Usanga has made periodic appearances on the Today show on RTE 1 presented by Daithi O Se and Maura Derrane.
"Yes I did push her. I pushed her, I didn't punch her. It was just the force. I did sleep with someone else, but I did not punch and I absolutely did not split her head open," he said.
"I know nobody will believe me, but I am not a violent person. I never, ever want to hurt anyone."
RTE would not comment on whether or not Usanga would be making any more appearances and the Today programme is currently off the air for the summer.
A Montrose insider said Usanga's appearances were not as a regular slot.
"His last appearance was five months ago," they said.
Usanga also made a brief appearance on TV3's soap opera Red Rock, where he played a doctor.
The Ballymount broadcaster said that in circumstances where a Garda investigation is ongoing it "wouldn't be appropriate" to comment on whether he would make any more appearances on the station.
"Like many others we have seen what is a very powerful video. We trust that this matter will be fully investigated," a TV3 spokesperson said.
Although Emma made a complaint to gardai about the alleged assault on her, gardai had still not met with Mr Usanga last night. However, a senior source explained that officers intend to interview him over the coming days.
Officers at Santry Garda Station are in charge of the investigation.
investigation
"The matter will be fully investigated, but no arrest has happened so far," a senior source explained.
"In cases like this, gardai need to do all their homework and will be gathering all the pieces together before interviewing the alleged culprit."
It is understood that this involves interviewing potential witnesses and obtaining medical records.
Sources say gardai were unaware of reports that threats had been made against Mr Usanga since Ms Murphy's internet video.
