On the third anniversary of her daughter’s murder, a Holbeach mum has been collecting hundreds of signatures in her bid to change the law.
Holly Bramley (26) was murdered by her husband in 2023 and mum Annette was on the town’s High Street on Tuesday for Holly’s Day.
He was known to have abused animals before the murder and now Annette is campaigning for ‘Holly’s Law’, a nationwide animal cruelty registry that lists individuals known for harming or killing animals.
She described animal abuse convictions “as the biggest red flag ever”.
“If they can be cruel to animals, they can be cruel to humans,” Annette said. “Unfortunately, Holly didn’t get out.
She didn’t see the red flags in spite of us trying to convince her.”
Annette and a group of volunteers including those from the charity Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Specialist Service and Boxes of Hope helped take the number of signatures close to 55,000.
They also held a raffle with prizes sourced by Rachel Clucas from Boxes of Hope and created purple ribbons to wear in Holly’s memory.
“It was quite busy and we got a lot of signatures,” Annette said. “After people have heard what it’s about, they’re all for it.
“Often they don’t know there is shown to be a link between animal cruelty and domestic abuse.”
Annette said she was delighted with the support she’d had from the community, especially Boxes of Hope.
“It’s amazing what they do here,” she said. “Those suffering domestic abuse are among those they help and speaking to them, they find it therapeutic to come out and say it.
“It was like that for a man who spoke to us about his experiences of domestic abuse earlier. Not many men admit that.
“I think it is therapeutic for me as well to be proactive.
“Rather than sitting back at home feeling sorry for myself but it’s a great help to be able to do something.”
Annette says that with the backing of MP Sir John Hayes she’s set to speak at a Round Table event at Parliament about her petition on www.change.com ‘Establish Holly’s Law: An Animal Cruelty Register for Domestic Violence Protection.
She’s also to meet with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips.
“Holly had a wry little smile, like a kid who has just put their finger in a cream cake, and I keep seeing that everywhere,” she said. “I think of us doing the petition for her and seeing her picture in the paper and I see her doing that smile.
“I think she’d be behind the campaign and thrilled with it.”
