Shannon is a 16-year-old student at Tommen College who suffers from severe anxiety and physical trauma due to her abusive home life. She frequently tries to remain invisible to avoid conflict, relying heavily on her older brother Joey for protection. Slowly, she begins to find a sense of safety and confidence through her growing connection with Johnny.

Johnny is a 17-year-old rugby star with dreams of playing for the National Team. His intense focus on sports is disrupted by his injury and his deepening concern for Shannon. He uses his privilege and physical presence to fiercely protect those he cares about, though his impulsive anger sometimes causes friction with authorities and family members.

Joey is Shannon's 18-year-old brother who spends his days acting as the primary caretaker and shield for his younger siblings. The immense pressure of surviving his father's violence drives him toward substance use as an escape. He is highly defensive and slow to trust outsiders who offer help.

Teddy is the abusive father of the Lynch family. He uses fear, manipulation, and physical violence to maintain control over his household. His actions dictate the daily survival strategies of his children, forcing them to constantly anticipate his alcohol-fueled rages.

Darren is the eldest Lynch sibling who fled to Belfast years ago to escape their father's homophobia. He returns to take charge of his younger siblings during the current crisis, advocating for their mother and demanding the family handle matters privately. His lack of recent firsthand knowledge about the household causes friction with Shannon and Joey.

Edel is Johnny's mother and a fashion designer. She is fiercely protective of her son and highly critical of anyone who threatens his well-being. Despite her initial temper, she possesses a strong maternal instinct that quickly extends to Shannon and Joey when she recognizes their neglect.

Gibsie is Johnny's loyal best friend and fellow rugby player. He uses constant humor to defuse tense situations but proves highly observant when his friends are in trouble. He consistently helps Johnny manage his impulsive tendencies.

Marie is the mother of the Lynch children. Paralyzed by the trauma of her husband's long-term abuse, she is withdrawn and relies heavily on smoking and medication to cope. She frequently demands that her children keep their family secrets hidden from outsiders.

Johnny's father is a practical man who understands the legal system and social services. He tries to guide Johnny's interventions with the Lynch family, preferring proper channels over impulsive confrontations.

Claire is one of Shannon's closest friends at Tommen College. She provides a safe space for Shannon away from her home and fiercely defends her against bullies and overbearing family members.

Aoife is Joey's girlfriend. She offers him emotional grounding and refuses to be pushed away when his substance use worsens. She actively defends the Lynch siblings, even engaging in physical fights to protect them from bullies.

Tadhg is Shannon's 11-year-old brother. Growing up in a violent household makes him dangerous and highly protective of his younger siblings, willing to use a weapon to keep his father at bay.

Bella is a student at Tommen College who previously had a casual sexual encounter with Johnny. Motivated by jealousy, she repeatedly targets Shannon, resorting to cruel insults and physical harassment.

Ollie is Shannon's nine-year-old brother. He relies on his older siblings to survive the chaos in their home.

Sean is Shannon's toddler brother who frequently stops speaking entirely due to the extreme stress in his home environment.

Lizzie is a loyal friend to Shannon at Tommen College. She acts as a physical shield, walking Shannon to classes to scare off anyone who might harass her.

Cormac is Bella's boyfriend who gets drawn into a violent physical fight with Joey in the school parking lot.

Alex is Darren's husband who lives in Belfast and eventually travels down to help the Lynch siblings during funeral preparations.

Twomey is the principal of Tommen College. He manages school discipline and must deal with Mr. Kavanagh's legal threats regarding student safety.