As much as I have tried to avoid the news these past weeks, a few stories have made it past the keeper and into the part of my brain marked "outrageous". The story about the NRL Sharks player Greg Bird who ‘allegedly’ smashed a glass in his girlfriend’s face and then tried to blame his best mate is one of those stories. You can read some background here. Today, reports have emerged that the scarred girlfriend has pledged to stand by her man. According to News Ltd:

There are a few words I can think of to describe a man who commits violence against a woman. I’m trying to keep my mind happy so I won’t post those words here.

She has also signed with a lawyer linked to Bird’s manager and is reportedly refusing to talk to police about the alleged assault. With the rugby star’s career at stake, it’s not hard to imagine how much pressure is being put on this girl to protect the man who allegedly smashed up her face and scarred her for life.

The fact that she is standing by him is a further tragedy……and, if the allegations are true, further proof that there are complex mental and emotional factors at play for women who stay with abusive men.