THE brother of murdered mum Valerie French has criticised Tusla’s lack of support for a law in her name, aimed at helping the children of femicide victims.

David French, from Leap, is campaigning for legislation to remove parental rights from convicted killers, but has said recent comments from staff at the child and family agency were ‘condescending’.

Mr French and his family are continuing their campaign to change the law in honour of his sister, mum-of-three Valerie French, who was murdered by her husband in their home in Westport in 2019, aged 41.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has received Cabinet approval to introduce Valerie’s Law, expected to go before the Dáil in the coming months.

But internal Tusla emails, reported in the Irish Times following a Freedom of Information request, suggest agency staff believe the Department of Justice has disregarded their ‘many objections’ to the bill.

David French told The Southern Star there were misconceptions about the proposed law, saying: ‘I am surprised at Tusla’s lack of support, especially as there is support from just about everyone else. I am not talking about taking away any rights from people until they are convicted.
That’s not the point of Valerie’s Law.’

Mr French explained that, under the current law, his sister’s killer, James Kilroy, continues to be informed about his children’s whereabouts and remains involved in major decisions affecting their lives. This had ongoing implications for the children, their carers and their privacy, he said.

‘Tusla are condescending because I’m asking for support and they are not giving me a straight answer,’ he said.

In May 2025, Mr French wrote to Tusla CEO Kate Duggan to seek backing for a change in the law. In his letter, seen by The Southern Star, he asked: ‘Does Tusla take a policy line on legislative reform in this area ? If so, I would like to ask for your support.’

In her response to Mr French, dated May 26th 2025, Kate Duggan wrote that the Department of Justice had asked Tusla for feedback on Valerie’s Law.

‘As this feedback is currently under consideration by the Department of Justice and confidential to the workings of the Government, Tusla would not be at liberty at this point in time to disclose its position on the proposed legislation,’ Mrs Duggan replied at the time.

‘These are people that are supposed to be in charge of children and they are actually acting in the best interest of the murderer. They have always been on James Kilroy’s side and they say his rights as a father need to be considered,’ Mr French added.

‘What I would absolutely like is for Tusla to engage with the people affected and with the research. I would like them to support Valerie’s Law. This is not just about my family, it’s a general issue and a general principle. It feels like they want to put the victims in a box and give them tea and biscuits,’ Mr French said. 

Tusla has been contacted for comment.

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