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Responding to the publication of two Domestic Homicide Review Executive Summaries today, Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Geraldine Hanna said:
“In reading the Executive Summaries of the Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) published today, my thoughts are first and foremost with those women who were murdered and the families they leave behind.
“The point of a DHR is to look at what lessons can be learned from these tragedies, to identify what our public agencies can do to try and prevent something like this happening again.
“We all have a role to play in tackling domestic abuse. It is absolutely crucial that we keep pushing for greater awareness and understanding of the signs of domestic abuse and coercive control, so we all have a better understanding of what it is and how we can support those victims.
“What is needed next is a laser like focus from all the relevant agencies to implement the recommendations from these reviews.
“This should be the priority for those agencies and they should be held accountable for achieving that.
“Tackling the scourge of domestic abuse is not something that sits under the purview of one government department or one organisation; this is something that requires a truly cross-cutting approach and input from all of our public bodies.
“I am concerned to note that one of these reviews highlights links to existing recommendations from previous DHRs.
“If we are going to seriously tackle domestic abuse, we have to ensure robust oversight which can monitor the effective implementation of all recommendations as swiftly as possible.
“Nothing can ever make up for the tragic loss of these two women. There is a grave responsibility on all of us now to do everything we can to use the lessons identified to drive real and lasting change in domestic abuse prevention and response.”