Little MIriam
Ann Cusack, Miriam Lake

Miriam Lake endured six years of terror at the hands of her stepfather Michael Egan, who broke her ribs in beatings, smashed crockery into her face, burned cigarettes on her hand and forced her eat dog faeces. Miriam lived in fear of death throughout her teenage years. Aged 15, she escaped Egan’s brutal regime but waited until her mother had passed away before reporting the abuse. In 2022, Miriam was devastated when Egan received a suspended sentence for historical child cruelty. She launched a campaign, started a petition, and persuaded the CPS to reexamine her case. Egan was later jailed for four years at the Royal Courts of Justice. Miriam now campaigns for mandatory jail terms for all abusers and she is a prominent voice for Women’s Aid.

Miriam, 48, says: “Every time Egan abused me, he smirked. He made me lick dog poo from his shoe and he laughed. He stubbed cigarettes out on my hand just for fun. That image of him smiling stayed in my head for years. So to finally see him jailed and to have that smile wiped off his face, was a true victory, not only for me, but for all survivors of abuse.”