Advertiser journalist Talara McHugh’s mother was almost beaten to death at the hands of a violent man

Advertiser journalist Talara McHugh bravely tells, in her own words, of the day her mum was severely beaten at the hands of a man known to her.

• Video: How mum survived horror attack

It’s been over a year since my mother was severely beaten, and the man who did it has shown no remorse.

On April 4, 2023, my mother found herself trapped in a car for hours, alongside a violent monster who kept telling her that she would never see her children again.

His name was Narsen Moffat, and on that day, he changed my family’s life forever.

Last year, 64 women were killed by a man in Australia, and it is a miracle my mum wasn’t one of them.

My mum suffered from a traumatic brain injury after being hit over and over again by Narsen.

He hit her so much she had two haematomas on both sides of her face and her left leg and hip still seize up and cramp because she had to throw herself out of a vehicle to escape him.

I’m grateful she’s alive and able to tell me that everything is going to be OK, when in reality, I’m not so sure.

Advertiser reporter Talara McHugh and her mum Irene, who was horrifically beaten. Picture: Ben Clark

Too many women in this country have been, and continue to be subjected to vile acts of cruelty at the hands of men, and it needs to stop.

It’s hard to fathom just how close she came to taking her last breath, when Moffat decided he wanted to commit this disgusting act.

He did it on my mother’s birthday, and I remember trying to call her to give her my best wishes, but she wasn’t answering.

She always answers the phone when her children call, and when it kept ringing through, I knew deep down that something was wrong.

Irene McHugh with her daughters Talara, Gemma and Hailey. Picture: Supplied

I had two little sisters asking where their mother was, and all I could do was tell them that everything was OK, and that she was probably just busy.

We never could have imagined that it was because she was fighting for her life in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

I remember getting the call like it was yesterday. Hospital staff told me my mother was hurt and in the emergency ward, but I had no idea just how bad it was until I got there.

Being the oldest sibling, I tried my best to put on a brave face, but as soon as I pulled back the curtains and saw her, my heart broke.

Bruised, bloody and swollen, she was unrecognisable.

Irene McHugh in hospital after being assaulted.

Irene was dragged along by Moffat’s car during the horror assault.

That day, a person who had no right to lay his hands on my mother, or any woman for that matter, had trapped her inside his car, punching her over and over again in a violent rage.

When she tried to escape, he pulled her hair to stop her, and when she finally managed to get out of the car, he dragged her along the road before she collapsed in the middle of the street.

But it wasn’t enough for this monster, who then reversed the car, causing an open door to slam into her face, knocking her to the ground again.

When I saw her in the hospital, she could barely move, but smiled and held her arms out to hold me as I broke down. She wiped my tears and rubbed my forehead to calm me down, just like she had always done.

My mother had just survived hell, but was more worried about making sure that I was OK, rather than herself.

She is strong, loving and kind, and that’s the person she has always been.

She is the person who I’ve known longest in this life, and I had never imagined a life without her up until that day.

When this sad excuse for a man hurt my mum, he didn’t care whether she lived or died. He was supposed to be her friend. He was someone she trusted, and he repaid that trust with sickening violence.

Talara and Irene sat down to tell their story to Jess Adamson in The Advertiser newsroom. Picture: Ben Clark

Irene McHugh with her daughters Talara, left and Gemma. Picture: Supplied

It breaks my heart to know what she went through, but what is one of the worst things about it all, is learning that he has done this to others.

For what he did to my mother, Moffat was charged with assault causing harm, assault and dangerous driving.

Throughout the court process, I learned that in 2020, he was jailed for assaulting a man in court, after he didn’t like the advice he gave him.

In April 2022 he punched a man walking alone on Hindley Street in the face, knocking him unconscious. This attack was unprovoked.

The same year, in November, he was caught stealing from an On the Run at Salisbury, and attacked staff when he was confronted, punching a male worker multiple times before unleashing his rage on a female manager who told him to leave, but before he did, he punched her repeatedly.

As he assaulted this innocent woman, Moffat gloated that he wasn’t afraid to hit women.

Irene McHugh with her daughter Talara. Picture: Supplied

Irene and a much younger Talara. Picture: Supplied

When I first heard that Moffat was going to be prosecuted for what he did to my mother, it was terrifying.

It was terrifying to think that my family and I would have to come face-to-face with the man who almost killed my mother, but he needed to pay for his crimes.

In court, my victim impact statement was the first time I had ever spoken about what had happened out loud, but before I even began, I was being ridiculed by Moffat.

The judge had to tell him to pay attention as I spoke, and he rolled his eyes as I cried.

He showed no remorse whatsoever, yet his defence spoke of how he was a changed man.

Last week, he was sentenced to three years and 29 days jail, with a non-parole period of two years, backdated to May 6.

This means Moffat could be out walking the streets of Adelaide as soon as 2026.

Going into court that day I knew we would never be satisfied with the sentence. If my mum didn’t escape, she would have died, yet her pain and suffering was only worth a measly three years.

Narsen Moffat.

The way I see it, is that Moffat is a monster who finds joy in destroying lives yet he will be free to walk the streets in two years time.

As a reporter, stories of domestic violence come across our desks far too often. We are only halfway through the year and almost 50 women have lost their lives to domestic violence.

In South Australia there is now a royal commission into domestic violence underway, but we can’t wait another 12 months for change … we need it now.

It’s not good enough to say it’s a crisis. We need to act like it, because there is no place for domestic violence in our community, and there is no place in our community for monsters like Moffat who prey on others.

My mother is scared to be alone and we are scared to leave her side. She will carry the trauma of what happened to her for much longer than her perpetrator was sentenced, and that to me doesn’t seem fair.