Why We Do What We Do

CONTENT WARNING: this blog contains graphic and Distressing content that describes horrific animal cruelty and domestic violence. Reader disgression is advised.

“Why we do what we do”  

Domestic violence is one of those conversations that is almost taboo, but fortunately the narrative is opening up a lot now through public exposure and tireless campaigners who are not afraid to speak out.  

When I was in the Police, attending instances of domestic violence was routine – daily even. The single most horrific job I went to as a cop was domestic related. I had been to fatal car accidents, suicides and sudden deaths but it was on a cold night in 2013 in Gympie that I think will stay with me forever.  

I will never forget the timid faces of four little kids with dirty hair and dirty nappies as myself and my partner at the time dragged their two large family dogs out of a bath tub. Their father had drowned them in an act of narcissistic desperation after an argument with his wife.   

Not having the balls or the human decency to act any other way, he proceeded to drag the two forty kilo dogs into the family bath tub where his children occasionally bathed, tied a rope around their neck and weighted them down under the boiling hot water with an old rusty dumbbell.  

By the time we got there, rigor mortis had set in. Their eyes were open; they were motionless under the water. It took every fibre I had to not walk up to this piece of shit and knock him into next week. In fact, I think I expressed that to him at the time.   

One distinct memory from that night was going to the Gympie morgue. Such were the size of the dogs we had to place them into human body bags and lodge them in the morgue before the RSPCA could take over the investigation.  

When Jamie asked if I wanted to partner him in the BVR project I initially thought it would be a little project on the side that would keep my mind active and investigative skills relatively sharp.  

It has turned into so much more than that. This podcast is really to honour the memory of all the victims of domestic violence out there, both men and women.    

If we can effect some change and put pressure on the authorities to do something about the death of Kirra Mcloughlin, well……. Who knows where this road will lead?

Tom Daunt