Londonderry Rally Addresses Violence Against Women Following Knifepoint Incidents

Approximately one thousand individuals gathered for a demonstration in Londonderry, protesting violence targeting women and girls. This assembly followed two reported incidents involving knifepoint attacks within the city. Specifically, a woman experienced an assault at knifepoint in Drumahoe last Friday. The subsequent Saturday afternoon, another woman, while walking her dog in Top of the Hill, was confronted by a man wielding a kitchen knife. Following these attacks, additional police officers were deployed across the city. However, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher stated on Thursday that maintaining such a policing operation would present “a challenge.” The organizers of the rally, which took place at Guildhall Square on Friday, indicated its purpose was to express solidarity with the women who were attacked and to convey that such occurrences would not be tolerated. Diane Greer, who served as a keynote speaker at a Guildhall Square rally over 35 years prior advocating for enhanced safety for women, expressed profound disappointment that conditions have not genuinely improved. She recounted, “I remember we held that rally after there was a spate of attacks on women near Derry Walls and we decided to have a rally involving a number of women’s organisations.” Ms. Greer further explained, “There was about a hundred women who met in the Diamond and marched down Shipquay Street and held a rally in Guildhall Square, just like this one.” She concluded, “It’s incredibly disappointing, desperately sad really, that again after all the years, after another spate of attacks, here we are again.” Ms. Greer observed “definitely a sense of fear out there” and noted that she has “moderated her own behaviour” due to no longer feeling secure engaging in activities she previously enjoyed. She stated, “I love walking in forests and exploring remote places on my own, but I no longer feel safe to do that.” She added, “I have a daughter and I have granddaughters and I am here today for them really because they should not have to live in fear – no women should live in fear.” At Friday’s rally, Glen Miller and Fifi Garrett distributed personal attack alarms. Mr. Miller commented, “These recent attacks have been deeply shocking to many people throughout the local community.” He continued, “Talk isn’t enough and we need to take action and a rally like this shows that we support the women in our city.” He also expressed, “I think there is definitely a recognition and acceptance that men need to do more and should be calling out predatory behaviour when they see it and challenge it. “We want people to understand that sometimes what people may think is ‘a silly wee joke’ is creating a narrative that isn’t healthy and isn’t welcome and can feed into some other behaviours.” Mr. Miller described the distribution of alarms as “a small thing” intended to enhance immediate feelings of safety. However, he emphasized the necessity of a long-term strategy to address this societal issue, highlighting the particular importance of educating young men in the future. Shannon Shiels informed BBC News NI of her desire to participate in the rally, stating she is “sick and tired of looking over her shoulder everywhere I go.“ She elaborated, “I can’t walk my dog at night alone without bringing a torch with me or telling someone where I am.“ Shiels concluded, “I’m sick of the onus always being us as women to do these things to feel safe, it shouldn’t be up to us.” Liz Campbell and Collette McCallion conveyed to BBC News NI that their attendance aimed to demonstrate the city’s intolerance for women experiencing insecurity. They, along with numerous other participants, displayed placards advocating for the cessation of violence against women. Conor, George, and Oisín expressed their intention to attend the rally to offer their support as men that evening. Conor remarked, “I think it’s important to be here as a man.” He continued, “I think there is a civic responsibility to show other women that there are men who have their best interest at heart and have their back.” He concluded, “It was a really nice event, albeit under horrible circumstances.” Oisín, aged 27, characterized this as a societal issue, emphasizing the need for men to confront misogyny and “behaviour that could snowball.” Several political figures representing different parties—among them SDLP leader Claire Hanna, DUP councillor Niree McMorris, People Before Profit’s Maeve O’Neill, and Sinn Féin’s Aisling Hutton—along with various representatives from local women’s organizations, spoke to the assembled crowd in Guildhall Square. Attendees were informed that women are entitled to safety within their city and that comprehensive societal transformations are required to guarantee the security of women and young girls throughout the entire island of Ireland. Subsequently, the names, ages, and dates of death of several women were recited to a quiet audience. A moment of silence then ensued to honor each victim. The rally concluded with local singer Cora Harkin performing a rendition of Dreams by The Cranberries, as many individuals sang along and waved torches.