Violence Against Women and Girls in Northern Ireland

Mary Ward, a 22-year-old woman from South Belfast was found dead in her home on October 1st 2024. While her body was discovered on October 1st, Mary is believed to have been dead since September 25th. Mary had been in contact with the police before her murder regarding issues of violence. On October 9th, a 31-year-old man was arrested in Dublin on suspicion of her murder. 

Mary’s murder has been the subject of widespread media attention. She is the fourth woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland over the past six weeks. This shocking number is representative of the high rates of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. 30 women and girls have been killed at the hands of men between 2019 and 2024 (PSNI). Statistically, Northern Ireland is one of the most dangerous places in Europe for a woman to live. Not only are women being murdered at a high rate, but they also face other forms of abuse. Like, violence and intimidation both inside and outside of their homes. 

Following the murder of Mary Ward, protests have been held in South Belfast by organisations such as Women’s Aid and ROSA NI. These protests are demanding emergency action to combat the growing issue of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. 

Northern Ireland's femicide rates (the killing of a woman or a girl based on her gender) are three times higher than those in England and Wales. It is important to understand why these levels are so bad, so we can take specific actions to address the violence.

Paramilitarism

Although the Good Friday Agreement was signed 26 years ago, violence between communities persists. Paramilitarism continues to be a reality in Northern Ireland. Many paramilitary organisations are still active despite the ceasefires all that time ago. Paramilitarism as a whole is beyond the scope of this article, and I encourage you to research the topic more if you are interested. However, two main characteristics of paramilitary groups are coercive control and violence... a recipe for silence from victims. Some women find themselves stuck in abusive relationships that may escalate to their murder. And, if they are to speak up, they must navigate layers of surveillance, threat, and coercion. Not only from their abuser but from those also involved in paramilitary activity.

Many women’s organisations in Northern Ireland have been stressing recognition of how women are affected by paramilitary organisations. Naomi Long (leader of the Alliance Party NI) has also stated that “violence doesn’t exist in a vacuum and violence against women and paramilitary violence are linked”. Women's organisations and politicians speaking up about the role paramilitaries play in violence against women is a positive step forward... bringing more attention to the issues and giving a voice to those silenced.

Ireland’s Misogynistic Justice System

Both Ireland and Northern Ireland's justice systems have been built upon patriarchal and conservative structures of society which are deeply tied to religion. Historically, women’s issues including domestic violence and sexual assault have been ignored or downplayed by the justice system. In a pathetic attempt to uphold values like family honour, male dominance, and social stability. 

The idea that a woman or girl could have ‘lost their innocence’ (out of their own choice to be sexually active, or in cases of sexual assault, or financial necessity) was inconceivable and resulted in many of these women and girls being sent to Magdalene Laundries. The Magdalene Laundries in Ireland were largely run by Catholic nuns. Girls as young as 9 were sent to perform unpaid work such as laundry work, sewing, and cleaning. Their stay at the Laundries ranged from a couple of days to years, living completely separate from the rest of society. During their stay, many of these women and girls experienced significant physical and psychological abuse. The victims were often seen as deserving of this abuse, it wasn’t until 2013 that Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) issued a state apology for its role in the Magdalene Laundries. 

Since then, organisations such as Women’s Aid NI and ROSA NI have worked to create a space to support women. Yet, many complaints by victims continue to be overlooked... Approximately 40,048 disclosures were made to Women’s Aid in 2023 about domestic abuse against women and children. This abuse exists on a spectrum, from subtle forms like gaslighting, to physical and sexual abuse which can lead to murder. To combat femicide we must tackle all forms of violence against women, no matter how small the actions seem. Women must be listened to and taken seriously. If the police had listened to Mary Ward on September 4th, things could have been different.

Sadly, it has taken a spike in the murder of women in Northern Ireland to finally draw attention to the violence women and girls face. But, having these conversations will make it easier for victims to speak out and get the support they need. The more pressure exerted on the Northern Irish police and government by different organisations, individuals, and politicians will hopefully lead to massive changes in attitudes towards the severity of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. I, and many women close to me have experienced some form of violence. I hope that having more open conversations will encourage people not to stay silent.

Helplines

North: Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline (for people of all genders) -> 0808 802 1414

South: Women’s Aid 24/7 helpline (for people of all genders) -> 1800 341 900

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