Mourners Gather in Banbridge to Remember Karen Cummings
Hundreds gathered in Solitude Park, Banbridge on Thursday evening, united in grief and outrage as they remembered Karen Cummings, the seventh woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland this year.
The 40-year-old children’s nurse was found unconscious at a house in Banbridge last weekend and later died from a head injury. two men have been charged wiht her murder.
The vigil, organized by Women’s Aid Armagh and Down, saw mourners holding banners bearing the names of 25 women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. A moment of silence was held in their memory.
Eileen Murphy, chief executive of Women’s Aid Armagh and Down, pleaded for the government to take stronger action against violence against women. “Seven women, and the year isn’t over yet, have been murdered in Northern ireland,” she said. “We want real and proper action because if we don’t, we will continue to lose mothers and sisters, wives, daughters to perpetrators of violence.”
Noel McNally, whose pregnant daughter Natalie was murdered in Lurgan in December 2022, spoke of the renewed pain Karen’s murder brought. “when we heard about Karen’s brutal murder,it just brought it back to us what happened to our Natalie two years ago this week,” he said. “We are heartbroken for [Karen’s family], but I know all of you here tonight coming to support Karen’s family; how much comfort they will get from that as the comfort we got from people coming out to support us when Natalie died was absolutely fantastic. Violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland has to come to an end.”
Kyle Savage,deputy mayor of Armagh,Banbridge and Craigavon,echoed the call for an end to violence. “We gather together here in sorrow, in remembrance and in solidarity to honour the life of Karen Cummings,” he said. “This should not have happened to her. We hope by taking a stand like this tonight, the message will be loud and clear that this cannot happen again. The violence that women face in our society can no longer be ignored or tolerated.Every woman has the right to feel safe and live free from the fear of harm. To Karen’s family and loved ones,our hearts are with you in this unimaginable moment of grief. We mourn with you, we will continue to demand change. Let this be the moment when we say loud and clear, enough is enough, violence against women must end.”
Following a meeting of the Stormont Executive, First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister emma Little Pengelly expressed alarm at the rising number of women murdered this year. “That’s not acceptable by anybody’s standards,” Ms. O’Neill said, “but it also highlights that we have a deep-rooted problem in society, that there’s a huge amount of work to do, and it’s not down to one body, one government department, one entity to fix this.” She stressed the importance of preventative work.
Ms. Little Pengelly added: “We’re absolutely dismayed by the most recent murder, as First Minister said, that is the seventh this year. It is indeed a challenge everywhere. The levels are notably high in Northern Ireland. that is why we moved to publish this strategy along with the delivery plan. And of course, our thoughts are with the family and all of those families of those women who have been killed this year but we are persistent going into next year to ramp this up in terms of our focus on this very, very tragic issue.”
## Archyde Interview: Remembering Karen Cummings and Demanding Action Against Violence
**Host:** Welcome back to archyde. Tonight, we’re focusing on a tragedy that has deeply shaken teh community of Banbridge and highlighted the urgent need to address violence against women in Northern Ireland.This week, hundreds gathered in Solitude Park to remember Karen Cummings, a 40-year-old children’s nurse, who was found unconscious at a house in Banbridge last weekend and tragically passed away from a head injury. Two men have been charged with her murder.
Joining us today is Eileen Murphy, Chief Executive of Women’s aid Armagh and Down, who organized the vigil for Karen cummings and has been tirelessly campaigning against gender-based violence.
Eileen, thank you for being here.
**Eileen:** Thank you for having me.
**host:** The vigil saw mourners gather, holding banners bearing the names of 25 women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. this is a truly heartbreaking statistic. Can you tell us more about the purpose of the vigil and the message you wanted to send?
**Eileen:** The vigil was a powerful expression of grief,solidarity,and outrage. these 25 names represent lives lost, families shattered, and a society grappling with a crisis of violence against women.
We wanted to remember Karen, to highlight the devastating impact this loss has on her loved ones and the community, and to make a clear demand: the government must take decisive action to end this epidemic. Seven women murdered in Northern Ireland this year alone is simply unacceptable.
**Host:** As you mentioned, Karen’s death is the seventh murder of a woman in Northern Ireland this year. What needs to change to protect women and girls?
**Eileen:** We need systemic change. We need increased funding and resources for specialized support services for survivors. we need to hold abusers accountable and ensure that the justice system takes violence against women seriously. We need education and awareness campaigns that challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote respectful relationships.
we can no longer afford to treat this as an issue affecting individuals. This is a societal problem that demands a collective response.
**Host:** What specific actions woudl you like to see from the government?
**Eileen:** We need robust legislation to address stalking, coercive control, and online harassment. We need more investment in preventative measures, such as bystander intervention training and support programs in schools.
And most importantly, we need a clear commitment from the government to prioritize the safety of women and girls. This requires real leadership, political will, and a willingness to implement bold solutions.
**Host:** It sounds like you’re calling for a thorough and systemic approach to addressing this issue.
**Eileen:** Exactly. This isn’t just about individual perpetrators; its about a culture that tolerates and ofen normalizes violence against women. We need to change the conversation, challenge harmful attitudes, and create a society where all women feel safe and respected.
**Host:** Eileen Murphy, thank you for speaking with us tonight and for your tireless advocacy. We certainly hope that your message resonates with our viewers and that together, we can work towards creating a safer future for all.
**Eileen:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** And to our viewers, if you or someone you know needs support, please contact Women’s Aid Armagh and Down or other support organizations dedicated to ending violence against women.
## Archyde Interview: Remembering Karen Cummings and Demanding Action Against violence
**Host:** welcome back to Archyde. Tonight, we’re focusing on a tragedy that has deeply shaken the community of Banbridge and highlighted the urgent need to address violence against women in Northern Ireland. this week,hundreds gathered in Solitude Park to remember Karen Cummings,a 40-year-old children’s nurse,who was found unconscious at a house in Banbridge last weekend and tragically passed away from a head injury. Two men have been charged with her murder.
Joining us today is Eileen murphy, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid Armagh and Down, who organised the vigil for Karen Cummings and has been tirelessly campaigning against gender-based violence.Eileen, thank you for joining us.
**Eileen Murphy:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** The vigil for Karen was incredibly moving. Hundreds of people came together to remember her and to demand action against violence against women.Can you tell us more about the atmosphere, and what you hope to achieve by bringing people together in this way?
**Eileen Murphy:** It was truly heartbreaking to see so many people gathered, united in their grief and anger. There’s a real sense of fear and frustration in the community. Karen’s murder is the seventh this year in Northern Ireland, and that’s simply unacceptable.
The vigil was about honoring Karen’s memory, offering support to her family, and sending a clear message to the government that we need real action now. We can’t just offer condolences; we need systemic change to protect women and girls.
**Host:** You mentioned systemic change. What specific actions do you believe the government should be taking to address this crisis?
**Eileen Murphy:** Firstly, we need increased funding for vital services, such as Women’s Aid, that provide support to survivors of domestic abuse.
Secondly, we need stronger laws and tougher penalties for perpetrators of violence against women.
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, we need a comprehensive prevention strategy that tackles the root causes of this violence, such as misogyny and societal attitudes that tolerate controlling behaviour.
**Host:** The First Minister and deputy First Minister have expressed alarm at the rise in female homicides. Do you believe they are doing enough?
**eileen Murphy:** While their words are appreciated,we need to see concrete action. promises and strategies are not enough.
We need a visible commitment, a dedicated budget, and a clear plan with measurable targets. We need to see them working together across party lines to create a culture where violence against women is truly unacceptable.
**Host:** Eileen, thank you for speaking with us today. Your words are powerful and your dedication to this cause is inspiring.
We hope that karen’s tragic death will be a catalyst for real change.
**Eileen murphy:** Thank you. We won’t rest until every woman in Northern Ireland feels safe.
