THE mother of Joleen Corr has said she believes she finally "got justice" for her daughter after a Belfast man pleaded guilty to her murder.
A tearful Carol Corr told The Irish News she knows "it's not going to bring her back, but each and every one of us did her proud".
She was speaking after Michael O’Connor (34) confessed to murdering his ex-partner on the eve of his trial.
Ms Corr (27) suffered horrific brain injuries and was left in a coma after being attacked in her house in Thomas Russell Park in Downpatrick in December 2016.
She was treated in a specialist brain injury clinic but in 2018 it was agreed her treatment would be withdrawn after medics told her family that nothing more could be done.
A jury was sworn in at Downpatrick Crown Court yesterday with the case due to start tomorrow before O'Connor entered his guilty plea.
Originally from Westrock Grove in west Belfast but whose address was given as c/o Maghaberry Prison, he had also been charged with her manslaughter.
Read More: Marie Louise McConville: Mother of Joleen Corr is an inspiration
After his eleventh hour confession to murder, that count was left on the books.
Judge Geoffrey Miller told him "there is only one sentence prescribed by law - that of life imprisonment", with a hearing in March to determine the minimum period he must serve before being considered for release.
Read More: Joleen Corr's mum on her battle to get justice for her daugher
A defence lawyer said O’Connor wished to apologise to the Corr family for all of the "misery and harm that he had caused".
The judge also commended relatives for the dignified way they had conducted themselves.
Carol Corr said when she was told the news she "burst into tears - I was crying with happiness".
Read More: Assault victim Joleen Corr was 'a great mother who simply wanted a happy life'
"Getting that guilty plea was just a miracle. I can’t explain the feeling. It was amazing, I am in shock," she said.
Ms Corr said the family had been experiencing "a living nightmare".
"It was very, very hard to watch your child suffer and to watch my other children watch her suffer.
"Michael O'Connor put my Joleen through hell. She lived in fear. He had control over her whole life.
"My Joleen wasn’t the same person. I was wondering what was wrong with her. She came to me and told me he was beating her even when she was pregnant."
Ms Corr said she believed domestic violence "needs to be taken more seriously".
"This is how serious it can get, when a life is taken," she said.
"It’s about time Stormont got better domestic violence legislation through.
"Anybody suffering domestic violence please get out of it, get the help that you need."
She added: "We will never forget Joleen. We will always keep her memory alive. The heartache will always be there.
"It just means the world to us knowing he is not going to be out any time soon to harm again. Joleen would be proud of us all."
