Irish church leaders denounce ‘epidemic’ of violence against women

Church leaders in Ireland have expressed their “sympathy and prayerful support” to the families of ladies who’ve been killed in “an epidemic of violence against women sweeping across Ireland”.

Representatives of the Catholic Church, Anglicanism, the Methodist and Presbyterian churches and the Irish Council of Churches appealed for the protection of ladies as they convened in Armagh to mark the death of Amy Doherty at a community vigil.

Doherty, a mother of two, was killed in Londonderry in March after being found badly injured at a Londonderry property. Hundreds of individuals joined a vigil in town centre following her death. A person has been charged along with her murder.

According to the church leaders, Doherty was the sixty fifth woman to be murdered on the island of Ireland since 2020.

In an announcement, the leaders said that “as people of religion, we wish to precise our sympathy and prayerful support for all those families who’ve been bereaved in such terrible circumstances and in addition our deep concern at what has turn out to be an epidemic of violence against women sweeping across Ireland”.

They added that they were ashamed to listen to that Northern Ireland is now probably the most dangerous places for a girl to live in Europe, with 30 of the 65 being killed within the province. Most of the victims were killed at home.
 
“As Christian leaders, we condemn femicide absolutely and all types of violence perpetrated against women,” they said. 

“While we welcome the introduction of policy and techniques to deal with the horror of violence against women and girls in each jurisdictions lately, it’s regrettable that this has not resulted in a decrease on this abhorrent murder rate. 

“At this particular time, we urge politicians, men and ladies together, to proceed to work with the emergency services and the courts, to be sure that they’ve the resources mandatory to combat this epidemic.”

The leaders also called for “cultural change”, an end to the toleration of “misogyny”, and work to foster models of “positive manhood”.