Calls for tougher sentencing guidelines in Northern Ireland to tackle ‘epidemic’ of violence

Published

3 months ago

September 5, 2025

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Victims are calling for stiffer sentencing guidelines for those convicted of violence against women in Northern Ireland as it grapples with a femicide record described as an “epidemic”.

Twenty-eight women and a girl have been violently killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, the worst rate in the UK and Ireland, and one of the worst in Europe.

In the most recent incident, 45-year-old Vanessa Whyte was shot dead along with her teenage children, James and Sara, at their home in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, on 23 July.

The sole suspect, her husband Ian Rutledge, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The slaying of the family came just weeks after mother-of-two Sarah Montgomery, 27, was murdered in Donaghadee. She was pregnant with her third child, a boy. A man has been charged with her murder.

Dr Susan Lagdon, a senior lecturer in psychology at Ulster University, describes the justice system in Northern Ireland as a “secondary form of victimisation” for women, and is urging tougher sentencing.

“A system that is victim-centred is where we need to move to next, and it absolutely comes from Stormont,” Dr Lagdon said.

Ulster University has previously carried out research that found 98% of Northern Irish female respondents had experienced some form of abuse or violence in their lifetime, a figure it described as “eye-watering”.

“I can’t say there’s a single reason why,” Dr Lagdon said.

“I’d probably describe it as a perfect storm. We’re looking at multitude of things accumulating together to create an increased risk for women and girls.

“We can’t get away from our history of civil unrest, and violence within society is going to create a sense of normalisation within family homes. We also have a general distrust in our authority and so reporting and help-seeking can actually put people at risk.”

Abigail Lyle agrees. The dressage rider from Bangor, who has represented Ireland at the Olympics, was attacked by former partner and fellow equestrian Jonathan Creswell.

He was given a six-month jail term for beating Abigail.

After he was released, Creswell was accused of murdering another woman, showjumper Katie Simpson, in 2020.

“Northern Ireland is a post-conflict society and I think there’s a lot of tolerance or desensitivity towards violence,” Abigail told Sky News.

“I think there’s also a lot of that attitude that it’s not your business, don’t get involved, turn a blind eye, you don’t want to get involved with the authorities.

“That’s probably still there from the times of The Troubles.”

Jonathan Creswell killed himself during his murder trial in 2024. The Katie Simpson case forms the basis of a new Sky documentary, Death Of A Showjumper.

“You definitely have survivor’s guilt,” said Abigail.

“That was something I really dealt with after Katie because I thought why am I here and she’s not? All my violent interactions with Johnny… every time, I felt like he could have killed me. Every time. Every single altercation was terrifying.”

‘Not tragedies, they’re murders’

Journalist Tanya Fowles was instrumental in alerting police to the suspicious nature of Katie Simpson’s death. Creswell claimed she had taken her own life.

“It seems like an epidemic anyway, and it’s not getting any better,” Tanya said of the recent wave of femicides.

“If the number of women who are being murdered in their homes by their own partner was the number of police officers being killed on the streets of Northern Ireland, there’d be uproar.”

“It almost seems like the more attention is drawn to these murders – and they’re not tragedies, they’re murders – it seems to be getting worse,” added Tanya.

“I think the Northern Ireland sentencing regime is too poor,” she said.

“I think there’s a very regrettable attitude towards victims who are terrified of what’s happened, traumatised by what has happened, fearful of what the justice system holds. Sentences need to be meaningful.”

The head of the judiciary in Northern Ireland is the Lady Chief Justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan.

In a statement, her office said the judiciary “are aware of the devastating impact on families experiencing domestic abuse”.

“The sentencing framework, within which all judges must act, is set in legislation by the Department of Justice”, the statement continued.

“Under recent legislation passed by the [Northern Ireland] Assembly, the sentencing court, in determining the appropriate sentence, must treat the fact that the offence is aggravated by domestic abuse as a factor that increases the seriousness of the offence.”

The Northern Ireland Executive launched a strategy to end violence against women and girls last year, but nobody doubts it will take time to arrest the current trend of offences.

Abigail Lyle, who now lives in England, has some optimism that things can change for the better in her home nation, but sounds a chilling note. “It’s really sad to say… but women are taking the brunt of it. Because they’re easy targets.”

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

For Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland, visit womensaidni.org, email info@womensaidni.org, or Freephone Domestic and Sexual Abuse helpline 08088021414

UK

Robert Best death: Women in court after man’s body found in Inverclyde field

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2025

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Robert Best death: Women in court after man's body found in Inverclyde field

Two women have appeared in court charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice after a man was found dead in a field in Inverclyde.

The body of Robert Best, 50, was discovered near High Mathernock Farm, Kilmacolm, on the morning of 11 November.

He had been reported missing from Greenock the same day.

Dorothy Shields, 64, and Nicola Brisland, also known as Nicola Campbell, 41, were arrested and charged in connection with Mr Best’s death.

The pair appeared before Greenock Sheriff Court on Wednesday, where they made no plea to the charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

The suspects, both of Port Glasgow, were granted bail ahead of their next court appearance, which is yet to be confirmed.

Andrew Brodie, 51, and Stephen Shields, 44, have already appeared in court in connection with the case.

The pair have each been charged with murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

The suspects, both of Greenock, made no plea to the two separate charges last week and were remanded in custody ahead of their next court appearance.

A 45-year-old man previously arrested in connection with assault and a 41-year-old man arrested at the same time as the two women have both been released pending further enquiries.

Police Scotland previously said officers investigating Mr Best’s death were carrying out enquiries into a report of a disturbance in Lansbury Street, Greenock, which took place between 11pm on 10 November and 3am on 11 November.

A force spokesperson said: “Enquiries are ongoing.”

UK

Illegal mountain of waste next to river ‘utterly appalling’, says PM

Published

2 hours ago

November 19, 2025

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Illegal mountain of waste next to river 'utterly appalling', says PM

Sir Keir Starmer has called the pile of fly-tipped illegal waste next to a river in Oxfordshire “utterly appalling” and said “all available powers” will be used to make those responsible cover the cost of the clean-up.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the pile of rubbish in a field beside the River Cherwell in Kidlington is now 150m long and up to 12m high, adding that water is “now lapping against the waste and carrying it into the river”.

Speaking at PMQs, Sir Ed said it is just one of many sites where organised criminal gangs are “illegally dumping their waste onto our countryside and getting away with it”.

“This is a shocking environmental emergency. So will he instruct the Environment Agency to clean it up now?” Sir Ed added.

Sir Keir responded in the House of Commons on Wednesday, calling the scenes “utterly appalling”.

The prime minister said: “A criminal investigation, as he knows, is under way. Specialist officers are tracking down those responsible.

“The Environmental Agency, in answer to this question, will use all available powers to make sure that the perpetrators cover the cost of the clean-up, which must now follow.”

Sir Keir added: “We have boosted the Environment Agency’s budget for tackling waste crime by 50%, giving councils new powers to seize and crush fly-tippers, vehicles and lawbreakers can now face up to five years in jail.”

Earlier this week, Calum Miller, Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, said recent heavy rainfall brought by Storm Claudia at the weekend had made the situation more urgent, and meant the rubbish was slowly floating towards the river, which eventually flows through Oxford and feeds the Thames.

Mr Miller also told Sky News on Sunday it was the first time he had seen anything on this scale, questioning whether the Environmental Agency had the resources to deal with it.

The cost of removing the waste is estimated to be more than the entire annual budget of the local council, which is about £25m.

With the site on a floodplain, Mr Miller listed what he saw as the three major environmental risks – waste being washed into the waterways, rain seeping through the waste and carrying toxins into the water and the danger of decomposing chemicals presenting a fire risk.

The site is adjacent to the A34, a busy road running through cities including Oxford and Birmingham.

He said the police had used a helicopter with a heat-seeking camera, and could see that some of the waste was beginning to decompose.

Mr Miller said he believed the Environment Agency was first made aware of the issue back in July.

He said he believed it was the work of “organised criminal gangs” and raised a “bigger systemic problem around the country”, with “dumps are cropping up in more and more places”.

He added: “My concern is the Environmental Agency lacks the resources to deal with criminal activity on this scale. I’m calling on the government to take action and ensure those who are dealing with such incidents have the powers they need to tackle it at source.”

Anna Burns, the Environment Agency’s director for the Thames area, said on Wednesday: “Most of the tipping happened before we were aware of it. As soon as we were aware, we acted quickly and decisively.”

Ms Burns said: “We are pursuing this as a criminal investigation and currently following a number of leads, and we are laser focused on pursing that investigation.

“And we are working with partners to understand the risks associated with the site.”

She said the agency will pursue the perpetrators to make them pay for the “blight on the landscape” they had caused.

UK

Oasis fan fell to his death at Wembley in ‘tragic accident’, coroner’s court hears

Published

4 hours ago

November 19, 2025

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Oasis fan fell to his death at Wembley in 'tragic accident', coroner's court hears

An Oasis fan who fell to his death at Wembley Stadium was the victim of a “tragic accident”, a pre-inquest review has heard.

Bournemouth man Lee Claydon, 45, died following the incident at the London venue on 2 August.

Detective Sergeant James Raffin, from the Met Police, said there were “no concerns” from Mr Claydon’s toxicology report.

He also said that while Mr Claydon had drunk alcohol, this was “expected” and “normal for any of the people attending” the Oasis gig.

The force had also ruled out the possibility of suicide, he said.

He told Barnet Coroner’s Court the police had now completed their investigation into his death

He said: “From a police point of view, this is no longer a criminal prosecution.

“We do not suspect any third party involvement.

“This, from everything we have seen, was a tragic accident.

“From a police point of view, I would say our investigation is complete.”

DS Raffin said he was aware the family had concerns over the “circumstances on the night”, and said he would pass these on to officials at Brent Council.

The deceased’s father, Clive Claydon, 75, previously raised questions about barriers at the venue.

“It must have been horrific,” he said in August.

“All I know is there was beer everywhere, it’s slippery, he slipped apparently, we do not know the rest of it, there’s questions about the barriers.”

Brent Council will now review the police report.

Mr Claydon, a landscape gardener, fell during a gig that formed part of Oasis’ sell-out Live ’25 reunion tour – their first since splitting in 2009.

The inquest opening, which took place in September, heard that the father-of-three was taken to a medical centre in Wembley after the fall, where he was pronounced dead at 10.38pm.

A post-mortem examination on 6 August gave his preliminary medical cause of death as “multiple bodily injuries”.

Senior Coroner Andrew Walker told the review hearing the full inquest will take place on 26 February next year.

He said: “It looks like we are going to be in a position next February to have reports from the London Borough of Brent over the circumstances and also we will have by then the police investigation report.”

Oasis previously said in a statement: “We are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of a fan at the show.

“Oasis would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved.”

In a statement at the time of the fall, a Wembley spokesperson said: “The stadium operates to a very high health and safety standard, fully meeting legal requirements for the safety of spectators and staff, and is certified to and compliant with the ISO 45001 standard.

“We work very closely and collaboratively with all relevant event delivery stakeholders – including event owners, local authorities, the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and the police – to deliver events to high standards of safety, security and service for everyone attending or working in the venue.”