This week, the online battle between Married At First Sight (MAFS) stars Jacqui Burfoot and Ryan Donnelly took an unexpected turn after they both sought legal action against each other.
It kicked off when Jacqui was granted an interim restraining order from the Tasmanian Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it was revealed that Ryan had filed for an Apprehended Violence Order in a Campbelltown court.
So, what does it all mean? Well, we asked Breanna Farrell, Family Law Associate at Attwood Marshall Lawyers, to break down all the burning questions.
What is an interim restraining order?
Jacqui’s interim restraining order is a temporary legal measure designed to protect her from immediate risks of violence or harassment. Farrell explains to PEDESTRIAN.TV: “An Interim Restraining Order in the Tasmanian Magistrates’ Court is best described as a Temporary Protection Order designed to address immediate risks of violence or harassment and will remain in effect until a full hearing can take place.”
This means Jacqui has immediate protection while the court determines whether a permanent order is necessary. If Ryan breaches the terms of this temporary order — such as by continuing alleged harassment — he could face criminal charges even before the matter is fully resolved.
Can Jacqui get in trouble for posting online?
According to The Canberra Times, after granting the restraining order on Monday, Magistrate Sharon Cure reportedly warned Jacqui against publishing material about Ryan. However, Jacqui has continued posting online, raising questions about whether she’s putting herself at legal risk.
Farrell says: “The legislation is very clear as to what amounts to harassing and derogatory conduct, and posting harassing and derogatory content can lead to legal risk.”
She adds: “Your Instagram and TikTok accounts are not as private as you think, and a screenshot can last forever.”
Even disappearing messages or private profiles don’t offer full protection. Farrell highlights how easily social media activity can be turned into evidence: “A screenshot is forever. People forget how easy it is to screenshot and send… This is how easy it becomes to turn your words into hard ‘evidence’ that could be read out in a courtroom.”
She explains that this isn’t limited to direct messages or posts but includes comments under photos or other posts as well. “It can even extend to photos and comments made underneath other posts and photos,” she says. Posts containing threats or derogatory remarks can strengthen claims of harassment in AVO or DVO cases.
What does Ryan’s AVO mean?
In response to Jacqui’s restraining order, Ryan filed for his own AVO — a type of protection order similar to a restraining order — in New South Wales. Farrell explains: “AVOs, DVOs and Restraining Orders are all names you might hear which generally refer to the same type of Order… Terminology differs between states and countries.”
If both orders are upheld, Jacqui and Ryan could end up under “cross-orders”, meaning they’ll both need to comply with strict conditions.
Farrell noted, “Both will be obligated to ensure they each follow the terms of their orders or risk criminal charges in the event of non-compliance.”
What happens on April 23?
Ryan’s AVO application is due for mention on April 23. This isn’t when everything gets finalised — it’s more like a preliminary court date where both parties inform the court whether they agree to the protection order or wish to contest it.
“Usually, on a first mention each party will inform the Court whether the application for a protection order is agreed by both parties to be in place, or whether the Respondent wishes to contest the matter,” Farrell explained.
If contested, trial directions are issued, and the court may decide whether a temporary order should be implemented until final resolution.
Will Jacqui and Ryan’s legal proceedings affect the rest of MAFS?
Fans have been wondering whether these legal proceedings might impact Married At First Sight. During court discussions, Magistrate Cure reportedly warned that issuing an order preventing Ryan from publishing content about Jacqui could interfere with the show itself. However, Jacqui clarified that she was “happy for the show to go ahead”.
For now, both Jacqui and Ryan face strict conditions under their respective orders — and breaching them could lead to criminal charges.
Lead image: MAFS / Nine
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