Morag’s Story

Morag made a mistake – but fought her own shame and others’ judgement to find peace and contentment.

“I still feel totally embarrassed and ashamed. I always feel like that.”

 “I stayed at Bankfoot, I was, like, twenty-one, I had my boys, I had the horse, the dog, my husband, the house and I had everything, I was happy, or so I thought.”

“My alcohol intake, it probably gradually got worse, because I was gradually beginning to feel lonelier in my relationship and so when he was out, I would drink. I had attended the doctor that afternoon, and I’d had a drink, obviously, the doctor had asked me if I had, and I said yes, and she obviously advised me not to get into the car.”

“At the point I’d got to the car, I thought ‘I feel fine, I feel OK, I’ll be all right.’ By the time I got back down the road, the police were waiting, and I knew immediately why they were there. I got caught drink-driving, and it was my first offence.”

“In the holding cell, my mind was, just, you’re just going through your past, what the future could be, how the boys are going to take it, that was my worst fear, how they were going to take it. Reading it in the paper, strangers commented on that, you know, that I should have been jailed, and not knowing the person or circumstances behind what, why a person does what they do. People shouldn’t be so judgemental, because it’s hurtful.”

“I got an order for a women’s only support group called Owls for three years, along with a three-year ban. My order’s finished, but I still volunteer to go in, and attend and see them and speak to them, ask for their help.”

“I’ve had a second chance, you know, I may not have deserved it, but I’m glad I got it. There could have been a serious accident, I could have hurt somebody, I could have hurt myself, it could have been far, far worse. So I’m glad, and I thanked the doctor for intervening that day and I’m working to be into a better place.”