‘Never Going to Beat You’ Takes the Embassy

By Aoife Delaney, Senior Women’s Co-ordinator

“A lot of victims of domestic violence think that if they dust themselves off, they will be  

grand. This film shows just how dangerous it can get.” – Tina McInerney 

Last night, we screened Traveller Movement’s film ‘Never Going to Beat You’ in the Irish embassy and heard from a panel of survivors. Over 80 guests came to watch the hard hitting film based on the true-life experiences of 18 Irish Traveller and Romani (Gypsy) women and hear from panellists Tina McInerney, Crystal Grace Smith and Laura Angela Collins.  

Domestic abuse can still be hidden from view and the barriers to leaving are high. ‘Never Going to Beat You’ is a direct challenge to this secrecy and these barriers. By the end of the film, which explores the devastating consequences of domestic abuse and the impact it has on the survivor, their children and the wider family, there was not a dry eye in the audience. ‘Never Going to Beat You’ is a universal film from a community’s perspective. The rawness of the film touched the audience, and one guest told us how much it resonated with her: “This film is real. I saw my story tonight.” 

Joined by the Ambassador, members of the community, survivors, and service providers, the Q&A panel after the screening was equally powerful. Tina McInerney – actress, survivor and our own women’s worker at Traveller Movement – spoke about the barriers to accessing support from refuge, Children’s services, police and the courts. She urged professionals in the audience to access training.  

Likewise, Crystal Grace Smith and Laura Angela Collins, who both campaign tirelessly on women’s rights and domestic abuse, spoke of the necessity to have better education on healthy relationships. Alongside upskilling the sector, the next generation need to learn about boundaries and red flags: “for young women watching the film, I hope it shows them what a boundary is and when its crossed.” 

For our next steps, we are asking everyone to help spread the word and share the film far and wide. Did you miss the screening? You can purchase the film here or contact women@travellermovement.org.uk to organise a film screening and workshop.