Published date:
Responding to the publication of Domestic Homicide Review Executive Summary, Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime Geraldine Hanna said:
“It is impossible to read the words of Marcella’s mother and not be moved by her grief.
“It is impossible to read this executive summary and not feel heartbroken for the children involved.
“Like all victims, the details of Marcella’s story are unique, but sadly it shares far too many similarities with other cases we’ve seen here in Northern Ireland.
“Last October when two DHR executive summaries were published I called for a laser like focus from the relevant agencies to implement the recommendations from those reports.
“It is deeply worrying to me that there are outstanding recommendations from previous DHR’s that are included in this executive summary as relevant.
“I also find it deeply concerning that this review has found that despite the qualifying criteria being met for the perpetrator to be referred to the Public Protection Arrangements in NI (PPANI), no referral was made.
“For people to feel safe in Northern Ireland we must make sure the PPANI referral processes are robust and working.
“Another of the key findings of this report is that ‘Domestic violence and abuse undermine a child’s fundamental right for safety and security. The response by organisations to address the children’s exposure to this, and improve the environment in which they lived, was inadequate’.
“We all want to live in a place where children can feel happy and safe growing up.
“To achieve that for all children here, we need swift, bold action from our criminal justice agencies and our health and social care trusts.
“This is not an issue that is the responsibility of one person or one organisation. All of those organisations identified in this report should be appropriately resourced and held accountable for implementing the recommendations.
“This matters to all of us and all of us have a profound responsibility to do what we can where we can to tackle domestic abuse.”