A Scots councillor who was beaten by her ex-husband for 26 years has credited a former colleague who spotted her injuries for giving her the strength to escape the violence.
Marie Garrity twice had her nose broken when her ex kicked her and had to attend Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow, where she was a nurse.
In one attack, she was badly beaten by her husband but she told the colleagues who treated her in hospital she had been in a car crash.
Like thousands of women, she was too embarrassed to tell colleagues about her ordeal – even as they treated her for injuries she suffered.
Her story comes as a nationwide project led by Scottish Women's Aid has been launched to train workers in Scotland to spot signs of domestic abuse in colleagues.
Marie, now a Glasgow councillor, said health workers are often reluctant to talk about abuse in case they’re seen as weak by colleagues.
Marie, who was a health visitor and an ear, nose and throat nurse, was patched up by surgeons she worked under, but hid the truth.
She said: “It was humiliating to be treated by surgeons I worked with. I became two people – the bubbly, confident professional at work and the cowering little wife at home.”
Marie married her first husband when she was 16 and he was 18 but had known him since she was 14.
The abuse started in earnest during the first year of marriage when she was pregnant with their daughter. She said: “It could last for three days, sometimes every week.
“He would kick me, punch me, drag me across the floor by my hair. It was horrendous. I was terrified of him.”
Her fear was so great and her self-esteem so low that she didn’t find a way out for many years.
But one day, when she bent down to pick up a file, a colleague noticed her back was black with bruising.
For the first time, Marie admitted she was being abused and her colleague said she would help. Marie said: “Being able to tell someone was an enormous relief. There was no judgment, only support.”
It’s now more than 20 years since she left her violent partner and her life has blossomed with a happy second marriage and thriving career.
Marie said the initiative to train employees to spot signs of abuse could be the trigger victims need to leave.
She said: “Having employees trained to spot domestic abuse could save lives. I am forever grateful to my colleague who confronted me when she suspected I was suffering domestic abuse.
“The relief to have someone to confide in, who offered support, enabled me to find the strength, with her help, to leave my violent husband.”
A nationwide project has now been launched to train workers in Scotland to spot signs of domestic abuse in colleagues.
Scottish Women’s Aid is behind the programme which it believes can help women seek help and support to escape abuse.
The charity, which is partnering with the Scottish Government for the initiative, will do training sessions and discussions with workers to give them a clearer understanding of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Scottish Women’s Aid chief executive Marsha Scott said workplaces could play a crucial role in changing attitudes and promoting gender equality.
She added: “Violence against women and girls, in all its forms, violates the human rights and dignity of every woman and girl in Scotland.
“Equipping the Scottish workforce with knowledge, understanding, and the tools to recognise and respond to violence against women and girls is key to challenging the everyday harm and to deliver the outcomes for women, children and young people that Scotland strives for.”
A pilot scheme for the Equally Safe in Practice (ESiP) is being launched in Angus, Dundee, East Renfrewshire, Falkirk, Fife, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.
It will be held in departments including social work and housing and will eventually be rolled out across Scotland.
It is hoped the one-off training sessions will promote discussions on how men and women are pigeon-holed and how sex discrimination enables domestic violence.
A quarter of women will have experienced domestic violence at some point. The training will help staff spot signs that might indicate a worker is the victim or the perpetrator of abuse.
Marsha said: “The training is bespoke to each organisation and will be delivered in ways which best suit. For example, we have different resources for small to medium businesses through to decision makers. With workplaces returning to the office after lockdown, this is a great opportunity to offer employees a new set of tools for delivering positive outcomes in our communities.”
Minister for Equalities Christina McKelvie said: “We are delighted to be working with Scottish Women’s Aid on this vital project to ensure workforces have a better understanding of gender-based violence.”
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