Judged: A Mother's Love - 3. The Bird In the Cage

Katie Bridget Murphy explores the story of Sally Challen - a mother who killed her husband after decades of coercive control. Through her son David Challen’s testimony, as well as expert insight, this episode reveals the hidden patterns of psychological abuse, the barriers to leaving, and the devastating impact on families.

Writer and Producer: Katie Bridget Murphy
Senior Producer: Ophelia Byrne
Executive Producer: Elizabeth Clark
Sound Engineers: John Benson and Davy Neill
Sound Design: Bill Maul
Artwork: Tom Cunningham
Assistant Commissioner: Prabhjit Bains
Commissioning Editor: Khaliq Meer

Judged: A Mother’s Love is a BBC Audio Northern Ireland production with BBC Sounds Audio Lab.

Published on Tuesday, 10th February 2026.

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