Dinah O'Dowd was born and raised in Dublin. In 1959, at the age of 19, she escaped the suffocating atmosphere of Ireland, leaving her first born behind. It was at the pub she worked at in Woolwich that she met her future husband, Gerry O'Dowd. Over the years Dinah suffered repeated physical assault and prolonged mental torture, yet successfully bore and raised six children, one of whom became a world superstar - Boy George. In 2001 Dinah and Gerry finally divorced, after 42 years together. Dinah now lives alone in South East London.
Compelling...an awful sort of love story, a grim protrait of domestic abuse. It is emotionally articulate and raw -- Chrissey Isley The Guardian Searing honesty, down-to-earth description and the authentic voice of a woman who has suffered and survived The Irish Times An extremely harrowing account You Magazine [Dinah's] catalogue of abuse is spine-chilling Review, Irish Independent [A] courageous memoir Irish Mail on Sunday