• Gemma Ahern lost her mother in a brutal attack
• Forced to live with father after his prison release

Gemma Ahern lost her mother in a tragic attack in the United Kingdom and was later forced to return to live with her father after he was released from prison. She now suffers from lasting psychological trauma and is calling for stronger legal protections for children.

Gemma’s father killed her mother, stabbing her 36 times in their home. At the time of the attack in 1992, Gemma was only three years old, and her father used a pair of scissors to commit the crime.

During the trial, he was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. After serving half of his four-year sentence, he regained custody of Gemma when she was six years old.

Now 36, Gemma is advocating for the implementation of “Jade’s Law,” which would suspend parental rights for any parent convicted of killing their partner at the time of sentencing. Campaigners say the law is urgently needed to protect children and bereaved families. The UK Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the law will come into force by the end of the year.

“Throughout all of this, there has never been a time when my wellbeing was prioritized over my father’s,” Gemma said.

Her mother, Carol Quinton, was 26 when she was attacked at home, suffering 36 stab wounds, including 11 to the heart, while her husband and daughter were present. Gemma revealed that her mother had been facing marital difficulties and was involved with another person at the time.

After killing his wife, Gemma’s father took her to the police station and surrendered himself. In court in Manchester, he claimed he had no memory of the fatal attack, which occurred during an argument with his wife. The judge sentenced him to four years for manslaughter, noting that his actions were out of character and describing him as a seemingly decent young man, according to media reports.

While he was in prison, Gemma lived briefly with her maternal grandparents before her father arranged for her to stay with his parents. She later returned to live with him following his release and continued to be raised under his full parental authority alongside his second wife.

Reflecting on her childhood, Gemma said she had been “on autopilot,” never questioning her circumstances. “My entire childhood was about suppressing everything. When I started to understand things better, I struggled greatly with my mental health,” she said.

The trauma led to diagnoses of complex post-traumatic stress disorder and ADHD. Gemma did not begin to fully investigate the events of her past until she reached her thirties.