Rates of violence against women should 'horrify' every individual

The rates of violence against women in Northern Ireland should "horrify" every individual, according to the deputy first minister.

On Wednesday, the Secretary of State said Northern Ireland is is the part of the UK where it is "most dangerous to be a woman".

Natalie McNally is one of 30 women to be 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 taking place on Thursday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, Little-Pengelly said 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 is ashamed of the figures, the deputy first minister said "we should all be".

"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," she said.

"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," Little-Pengelly said.

"This is not just an issue for government, it's an issue for us all."

Little-Pengelly said that the strategy is "at a very early stage", later adding that it is a "very complex issue".

She said there should be "clear messages and values being given in every home, in every school, in every opportunity because it is absolutely appalling, the levels of violence against women and girls here is appalling".

The deputy first minister said there must be support in place for women when they decide to leave their partners.

"We know that the vast majority of women who are killed, are killed by partners, estranged partners, somebody who is known to them," Little-Pengelly said.

"But we also know the point in which that is most likely, is the point in which they leave that person," she said.

"It also means that person must have refuge, they must have the support services when they decide to leave."

Little-Pengelly said it is "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".

"Obviously those are funded not through the Executive Office but through other departments but we require that coordinated response."