Armstrong alarmed by Femicide in Northern Ireland
Armstrong alarmed by Femicide in Northern Ireland

Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Diana Armstrong MLA, is deeply alarmed by the urgent and escalating issue of femicide in Northern Ireland.
“I wish to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mary Ward, a victim of a horrific murder in South Belfast. Her tragic death has deeply affected us all. Mary is the fourth woman to be killed in the last six weeks.
“As women, we face unique challenges, and the rise in femicide is a grim reflection of the violence many of us continue to endure. The horrific death of Mary Ward is not just another statistic; it is a devastating example of the failure to protect women across Northern Ireland.
“With the recent development in the ongoing case that she had been a victim of a violent crime before her death, this raises many questions as to the current protections in place to safeguard women. She should have felt safe within her home, in public and broader society. We owe it to her and her memory that we help safeguard women’s rights and security within Northern Ireland. I sincerely hope this will be the wake-up call for the Stormont Executive to take immediate and decisive action.
“This is not just a women’s issue—it’s a societal crisis that demands urgent and decisive action from all of us. The impact of femicide reverberates throughout our society, affecting us all. Everyone deserves to live without fear of violence. It is codified into Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security.”