A candlelit vigil will be held in Banbridge’s Solitude Park on Thursday evening in memory of murdered mother-of-two Karen Cummings.
The vigil will be led by Women’s Aid Armagh-Down, and begin at 6pm.
Local councillors, including Kevin Savage, have been liaising with Karen’s heartbroken family about coming out as a community in order to show their support and to stand behind women impacted by violence.
Speaking at Monday night’s full council meeting, Lord Mayor Sarah Duffy – whose chosen charity for the year is Women’s Aid – spoke of how she, and many others, attended a vigil in Lurgan only last week to speak out on violence against women.
“We could never have imagined that just one week later we would be mourning another tragic loss of life, Karen Cummings from Banbridge, who was brutally murdered right here in our borough,” said Councillor Duffy, who tonight – incidentally – had councillors wear Christmas jumpers to help raise money for Women’s Aid.
“This devastating loss is shaken us all to our core and is a painful reminder of the urgent need to address the epidemic of violence against women and girls. My heart comes out to her family, friends and all who loved her. Our borough stands in your grief, and we will honour her memory by continuing to demand change.”
Alliance Councillor Joy Ferguson asked the Council chamber to support her call for a candlelit vigil to “send a strong message of support to Karen’s family and to bring the community together to say this type of behaviour is unacceptable.”
“As a community, we will walk hand-in-hand to support her family and all those who’ve been impacted,” she said.
“Unfortunately, we meet again tonight after another tragedy in our borough where we see violence against women continuing in the most horrific of circumstances. So close to Christmas, the family of Karen Cummings are trying to make sense of the senseless.
“Karen was a mother, a nurse, a treasured daughter, granddaughter; a young woman with her life ahead of her and my sincere condolences to the McQuaid and Cummings family as they try to come to terms with what has happened. In particular, we send our thoughts and prayers to her children, Zara and Curtis.”
Sinn Féin councillor Kevin Savage added: “I didn’t know Karen, but I’ve spoken to some of her friends who are absolutely devastated by her senseless murder, and they’ll simply never forget her.
“Violence against women and girls is a shameful stain on our society. Seven women have been murdered this year, and a total of 25 since 2020. 33,000 incidents of domestic violence were reported to the police in 2023. These figures are truly shocking.
“Since the Executive launched its framework to end violence against women and girls in September, three more women have been murdered. We need to see this strategy deliver and deliver quickly.
“Those who perpetrate violence and murder need dealt with. The full rigours of the law will need to be brought down upon them, and the justice system needs to step up and ensure that women and girls are protected from those with history of domestic violence and that those who commit to these crimes are taken to prison and kept there for a long time.”
Ulster Unionist Councillor Kate Evans praised Councillor Savage’s comments as a male member to “speak about such a serious and pressing matter”.
“We know it’s not all men, but we need those men to support us and speak out with us, so thank you. There isn’t anything we can say in this chamber to ease the pain Karen’s family and friends are feeling this evening.
“So to Curtis and to Zara, I am truly sorry this is happening to you, and in the months ahead, I hope you find comfort in the stories that your mummy’s friends will tell you and the love and the precious memories she has left with you both.”
DUP councillor Ian Wilson described the weekend’s news as “absolutely tragic”.
He said: “My heartfelt sympathies goes out to Karen and her entire family, especially her two children who are facing Christmas without their mum.
“Banbridge is a very strong close-knit community and they will rally around to support Karen’s family at this tragic time.
“Unfortunately, our borough is no stranger to violence against young girls. It’s a stain on our borough that we should not have to endure. And I echo the sentiments of previous speakers; I too believe a vigil on Thursday night is a very, very good idea, something that allows us to come out and show support for Karen and her family.”
SDLP Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon said: “We shouldn’t be here, and we shouldn’t have this message to relay.
“Just two years ago, our chamber reflected the disgust and the heartbreak of our community at the death of Natalie McNally. Her family have kept her name alive in the meantime. They’ve sought to raise the profile of violence against women, and tonight, we are here again.
“I’ve said in the chamber on a number of occasions, and will do so again tonight, leaders in our society must continue to raise the issue. We must continue to stand up and say no.
“We must protect our daughters, our sisters, our wives, our mothers and all women in society. We must teach our sons, our brothers and our friends that this is wrong, that it should not happen, and that real men, if there is such a term, stand up for women and say, ‘enough is enough’.
“My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Karen’s beautiful children this Christmas, for when many of us are laughing and enjoying the Christmas season, I’m sure all they’ll want is mummy’s hug.”
More details on Thursday’s vigil will be released in due course.
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