A Married at First Sight Australia bride has accused her on-screen husband of lying in his application for a restraining order against her, which she claims is retaliation for her own legal victory.
Ryan Donnelly and Jacqui Burfoot were paired on the latest season of the reality show but separated after a heated final vows ceremony. The conflict moved from television to court when Burfoot obtained an interim restraining order in Tasmania, barring Donnelly from discussing her on social media.
Donnelly responded by applying for an apprehended domestic violence order against Burfoot, which was heard at Sydney's Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday. He told reporters he had suffered harm and received menacing messages due to what he called 'vicious' and 'malicious' claims Burfoot made online.
Burfoot, who did not appear in court, sent an email opposing the order, stating it was 'founded on false statements and is in retaliation to my win in court'. She argued the relationship lasted only three months, not nine as Donnelly alleged, and that he was using court proceedings to mislead the public.
Magistrate Shane McAnulty declined to grant the order in Burfoot's absence and adjourned the matter until June 24 for further submissions. Outside court, Donnelly maintained he wanted to move on but needed protection, and suggested he had a strong defamation case against his former TV wife.
