I was born in Belfast in Dec 1964, and the Troubles began when I was 3 so I don't remember a time when there was peace. I am the youngest of 5 sisters. My parents are working class people my father died in 2001 at the age of 65 from lung and liver cancer. My mother still lives in Belfast, 3 of my sisters live there and the other one is a midwife who lives in London.

I was injured in a bomb explosion when I was 11. I lost 75% of the hearing in my left ear. I attended convent schools both in primary and grammar school levels. I married a police officer in 1990 and we went on to have 3 children. Chris 13 Laura 11 and Steven 8. My husband and I divorced in 2001 after numerous death threats against our family. I decided to move to America so  that the kids could grow up without fear. Since I moved here in November 2001, I met and married my present husband David Curtis who is a sergeant with Washington Police Dept. I am hoping to get into the nursing program in 2005. I have enjoyed attending college here although I had a gap of 22 years in my education!