Tragic Childhood and Aftermath
Gemma Ahern witnessed her father fatally stab her mother 36 times when she was just three years old in 1992. The attack was carried out using a pair of scissors.
Her father was acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter. After serving half of a four-year sentence, he resumed care of Gemma when she was six years old.
Now 36, Gemma advocates for the implementation of Jade's Law, which mandates automatic suspension of parental responsibility for any parent serving time for killing the other parent.
Campaigners emphasize the urgent need for this law to protect children and bereaved families. The UK Ministry of Justice has stated the law will be enacted by the end of 2026.
"There hasn't been a time, throughout this whole thing with me, where my wellbeing has been put before my dad's," Gemma said.
Carol Quinton, aged 26, suffered 36 stab wounds, including 11 penetrating her heart, during the attack at the family home she shared with her husband and daughter.
"She was seeing somebody else. She wanted to leave," Gemma explained.
Following the killing, Gemma's father took her to the police station to surrender himself.
During the trial at Manchester Crown Court, he claimed to have no memory of the fatal incident, which occurred amid an argument over the end of their relationship.
He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to four years by Judge Mrs Justice Smith, who accepted the act was out of character and described him as a decent young man, according to the Bury Times.
While incarcerated, Gemma briefly lived with her maternal grandparents. Subsequently, her father arranged for her to live with his parents before she returned to live with him after his release.
He retained full parental responsibility, and Gemma was raised by him and her stepmother.
Throughout her childhood and adolescence, Gemma described herself as "on auto pilot," not questioning her circumstances.
"My childhood was all about suppressing everything," she said.
"When I started to understand everything better, that's when I really struggled with my mental health.
"I was in a really bad place because the trauma just kind of hit me."
Gemma was diagnosed with complex PTSD and ADHD as a result of the trauma she endured.
It was not until her 30s that she began to investigate the details of what had happened.
What is Jade's Law?
Jade's Law is named after Jade Ward, who was stabbed and strangled at her home in Shotton, Flintshire, by her ex-partner Russell Marsh in 2021 while their four children slept nearby.
In 2022, Marsh was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years after being found guilty of murder.
Jade's family was shocked to discover that Marsh still retained parental rights, allowing him to request pictures and school reports of the children from prison.
Under current legislation, parents convicted of killing the other parent must still be consulted on decisions affecting their children, including health, education, and travel.
Jade's family and supporters campaigned to revoke these rights and suspend parental responsibilities for all parents who kill someone they share children with.
They succeeded, and in May 2024, section 18 of the Victim and Prisoners Act 2024—known as Jade's Law—was among the last laws passed before the general election.
However, nearly two years later, the law has yet to be enacted.
At the time of passage, the UK government stated the law would protect children by preventing killers from exerting undue influence over their lives.
The law applies to anyone convicted of murder or voluntary manslaughter of a co-parent, with exemptions for cases where domestic abuse victims kill their abusers.
Jade's family expressed dismay over the delay in implementing the law.
"I thought no other family will have to go through what we've had to do," said Jade's mother, Karen Robinson, in December.
Gemma’s Perspective and Experience
Gemma described living with her father after his release as "unbelievably detrimental," likening it to "a life sentence."
She believes children should be placed with their maternal family when possible, supported extensively by child services and schools.
"When you know the truth, you're less likely to grow up and question. So a child that is well informed in an age-appropriate way is more likely to grow up with reduced mental health difficulties," she said.
The circumstances surrounding her mother's death were never discussed at home.
"You kind of look for the best in people and you are biologically wired to your parents," Gemma said.
Gemma worked in her father's business until she left at age 31.
After meeting her partner, she moved to north Wales and began to question much of what she had been told.
"Being away, I felt safer," she said.
She spent a year and a half researching the true events and has since severed ties with her father and his family.
Official Responses and Advocacy
The UK Ministry of Justice stated it is implementing Jade's Law "as swiftly and safely as possible" and expects it to come into force by the end of 2026.
"Our deepest sympathies are with the families of these victims," the Ministry said.
Sarah Burrows, chief executive of the charity Children Heard and Seen, emphasized the need for urgent action.
"Some children experience the unimaginable - losing one parent to domestic homicide while the other receives a prison sentence.
"The children and those caring for them are the forgotten victims after incidents of domestic homicide.
"Jade's Law must be implemented urgently, so that perpetrators of domestic violence automatically lose parental rights at conviction."
