West Berkshire mother walking to raise awareness of domestic abuse after her daughter was murdered by her partner

A MOTHER is walking 100 miles this month for her murdered daughter – and for all other victims of domestic abuse.

Claire McGrath’s daughter Keely was murdered by her abusive partner at the home they shared in Derbyshire four years ago.

Mrs McGrath and her husband Martin, who live in West Berkshire, will also feature in a Netflix documentary, My Lover, My Killer, which will be aired tomorrow (Friday) as they continue to raise awareness about domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.

Mother-of-five Keely was killed by her partner Anthony Davis, on December 13, 2018.

He was jailed for life, with a minimum of 24 years after being found guilty of her murder by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court.

For her parents her death brought with it another heart-breaking revelation – Keely had been a victim of coercive, controlling behaviour and domestic abuse for several years, but had suffered in silence.

They only learned of the abuse their daughter had had inflicted upon her – in her own home – during her murderer’s trial.

“We had no idea,” Mrs McGrath said. “As far as we were concerned she was happy for the first time in her life.

“He had his own business; he owned 20-plus properties and he looked after her – we thought.

“We now know he was a typical narcissist.

"They control everything and they suck you in.

"It was classic domestic violence.

“He pleaded his innocence throughout; he said she had fallen down the stairs.”

But Keely had 48 injuries, including 14 broken ribs, two punctured lungs and a fractured skull, as well as belt and boot marks on her body.

Mrs McGrath is now walking 100 miles throughout February to help raise awareness of the issue and vital funds for domestic abuse charity Refuge.

The couple, who have another daughter and two further grandchildren, hope that by sharing Keely’s story it may help other victims see that they are not alone and there is help available to them.

They also hope family and friends will look out for the signs of domestic abuse.

“Keely wasn’t a shrinking violet,” said Mrs McGrath. “She was strong, independent and he was a businessman.

“All of it was really hard to understand and why didn’t she tell us? But apparently nobody ever tells anybody; it’s all behind closed doors.

“It has opened our eyes to how prevalent this is.”

According to the charity Refuge, more than one in four women in England and Wales experiences domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or former partner.

Mr and Mrs McGrath, who have been married for 33 years and both grew up in Lambourn, now raise two of Keely’s sons, while her youngest daughter is living with another family member.

They were just three, 22 months and seven months old when their father murdered their mother.

Keely’s eldest two children, from a previous relationship, live with their father.

Mrs McGrath said the children are traumatised but are receiving the help they need.

“Grief affects your health,” she added. “When I turned 50 a few weeks before Keely died it was the best birthday ever, but life has just stopped.

“Now I feel like 104, not 54.

“It pulled Martin and I together and having the boys gives you a reason to get up in the morning.

“We try to include [all the grandchildren] as much as we can and they will always be our priority.

“And Keely wouldn’t want me to give up.”

If you would like to sponsor Mrs McGrath for her 100-mile walk you can visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/claire-mcgrath26

She will also welcome anyone who would like to walk some of the miles with her.

Refuge supports thousands of women and children every day, and runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which is the gateway to accessing specialist support across the country.

If you need help or advice you can call Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk to fill in a webform and request a safe time to be contacted.

For support with tech abuse visit refugetechsafety.org.

You can also access live chat on the national helpline, which is available from 3pm to 10pm, Monday to Friday.