RTE Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty chokes up as Ireland rugby star Jordan Conroy recalls childhood domestic violence

RTE Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty got emotional as Ireland rugby star Jordan Conroy recalled his “hellish” childhood.

The former Dancing With The Stars contestant appeared on the hit RTE chat show tonight to speak about the domestic abuse himself and his family endured at the hands of his stepfather.

Jordan bravely opened up saying: “Growing up in Germany was a very dark and traumatic time because me, my mum and sister went through long years of domestic abuse.

“At a very young age it was tough to see your mam being beaten down by a man.”

When Jordan was asked when he realised it wasn’t normal, he replied: “When my mother was crying and she’d tell me to run and get help.

“When you’re seven, I just didn’t know any different. Thinking back on that now I just think, ‘That’s hell’.

“It did mess up my childhood a little bit. I started taking it out a lot on my class mates. I became very violent very quickly.

“I think when my mum saw how it was affecting me and even times when I got hit as well, she knew it was time to go.

“It was me too. I hated him with a passion because I saw what he was doing. Sometimes I tried to fight back but it wasn’t any good. It was tough.”

Jordan explained how himself, his sister and his mum “finally” got away from his abuser after a devastating breaking point.

The 30-year-old said: “I just remember waking up hearing arguing and I just knew the minute I got that sinking feeling in my stomach and was like, ‘It’s happening again’.

“I kind of went to the door and looked through the creek and he was drunk. Me and my mum made eye contact to say, ‘When I say get ready to go’.

“And she just held him because he saw me. I just ran upstairs and called the police. All I could hear is screaming and shouting.

‘RUN AWAY FROM HIM’

“I remember coming down afterwards seeing her in a white t-shirt all bloodied up and it was at that time we could press charges finally.”

Jordan and his family then moved to Tullamore when he was just 10 after escaping the abuse.

He said: “I lied when people asked me why I returned. I’d say, ‘Aw it was to be closer to family, we’ve more family here’. It was to run away from h