The family of Natalie McNally have described a recent rise in femicide in Northern Ireland as an “epidemic” and “unacceptable”.
Natalie is one of the 24 women who have been killed here since 2020, with the murder of Mary Ward earlier this month meaning four women were killed within the past six weeks.
A rally organised by feminist socialist movement ROSA NI at the gates of Queen’s University Belfast on Wednesday attracted hundreds of people demanding an end to violence against women and girls.
There was significant anger and emotion among the many speakers at the rally, which was attended by friends and family members of some of those women who have had their lives taken in recent years.
Natalie McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed in her own home in Lurgan in December 2022.
Stephen McCullagh of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, Co Antrim, has been charged with, but denies her murder.
Speaking to the Irish News at the rally in south Belfast, Natalie’s brother Brendan says “it never stops being a shock” to hear of murder cases involving women.
“We realise what the importance is of coming out to events like this, building up resilience and building movements that can fight back against this pandemic of gender-based violence,” he said.
“The statistics themselves are very shocking. When you think of one life lost it’s bad enough, but the after effects of all the lives destroyed after that. Under the surface it is causing massive damage to society.”
Natalie’s aunt Bernie described the numbers of women being killed as an “epidemic”.
“It’s very touching and very emotional and great to see so many people here supporting women and calling for an end to violence against women and girls, because it’s an epidemic. It’s just unacceptable.
“Women’s Aid and other organisations have always done a good job for years, but nobody was listening to them.
“I read on the news yesterday that 24 women have been killed since 2020, when you’re faced with those sort of numbers and these faces of these women looking out at you from the newspapers, everybody starts to say how can we do something about this? I think that’s why so many people came here today.”
Eva Martin, organiser of the event at QUB on Wednesday said the anger in society in the north about violence against women and girls has reached a crescendo.
“I think the mood was palpable in terms of rage, in terms of grief,” Ms Martin said.
“The anger in society around gender based violence is just coming to a crescendo. People are just so sickened and so at a point where you’re asking the question about how this can keep happening.
“It’s not over-exaggerating to refer to this as an epidemic.”
