Concerns Raised Over Violence Against Women in Northern Ireland
The rates of violence against women in Northern Ireland should "horrify" every individual, stated the deputy first minister.
On Wednesday, the Secretary of State described Northern Ireland as the part of the UK where it is "most dangerous to be a woman".
Emma Little-Pengelly spoke on Thursday following the murder of two women this month and the conviction of a man for the murder of Natalie McNally.
Natalie McNally is among 30 women who have been brutally and violently killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.
Ellie Flanagan, 23, was found dead on 7 March at a house in Enniskillen. Martin McCarney, 45, from Enniskillen, has been charged with her murder.
A 30-year-old man has also been arrested on suspicion of murdering mother-of-two Amy Doherty on 21 March in Londonderry. Her funeral is scheduled for Thursday.
Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, Little-Pengelly emphasized that the rates of violence against women in Northern Ireland should "horrify all of us".
"It horrifies me it should anger all of us," she said.
When asked if she feels ashamed of the figures, the deputy first minister responded,
"We should all be."
She added,
"I don't think Northern Ireland wants to be anywhere near the high lists in relation to this issue but we always have to remember that every single death is an utter tragedy."
Little-Pengelly further reflected,
"All of these women were deeply loved, all of these people were women who had their lives ahead of them and I when you listen to the McNally family, when you listen to their loved ones you can see the utter devastation that is caused by those who took away their lives in such a violent way."
She concluded,
"This is not just an issue for government, it's an issue for us all."
Stormont's Strategy and Complex Challenges
Stormont's Executive Office, jointly led by the deputy first minister and First Minister Michelle O'Neill, launched its Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in 2024.
Little-Pengelly described the strategy as "at a very early stage" and acknowledged it as a "very complex issue".
She emphasized the necessity for clear messages and values to be conveyed in every home, school, and opportunity, stating,
"It is absolutely appalling, the levels of violence against women and girls here is appalling."
The deputy first minister stressed the importance of support for women who decide to leave their partners.
She noted,
"We know that the vast majority of women who are killed, are killed by partners, estranged partners, somebody who is known to them."
She added,
"But we also know the point in which that is most likely, is the point in which they leave that person."
Little-Pengelly highlighted the need for refuge and support services for women leaving abusive relationships,
"It also means that person must have refuge, they must have the support services when they decide to leave."
She further explained,
"It's all very well us sending clear messaging to people about reaching out, getting that help, but of course we need to support women who need to leave in emergency circumstances, including with their children."
She noted that funding for these services comes from departments other than the Executive Office but emphasized the need for a coordinated response.
Financial Constraints and Systemic Challenges
MLA Deirdre Hargey, a member of the Policing Board, told Good Morning Ulster that there are "huge financial constraints" affecting the executive and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
She stated,
"When you look at incidents that have happened, the fact that 30 women have lost their lives, it's a whole system and society approach that we need."
Hargey stressed the importance of adequate funding to address these challenges,
"We need to ensure that we're properly funded in order to meet those challenges."
She acknowledged that policing is at the forefront of tackling these issues but emphasized that education, healthcare, and the economy must function effectively to address root causes.
Hargey remarked,
"We need to start to challenge the root causes of what leads to these issues and incidents around homicide rates around violence against women and girls generally."
She added,
"When you're looking at 30 women who have been murdered since 2020 then it is an issue of 'are we prioritising it as much as we could be?' and that's something we have been pushing the police on."
