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Several hundred people turned out for last night's candlelit Vigil in Newry to remember Karen Cummings, a well loved Paediatric Nurse at Daisy Hill Hospital who was murdered in her home in Banbridge on Saturday night, 14 December. Although the night was freezing cold the warmth of those in attendance shone through. The vigil honoured Karen and recalled the 24 other women murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020, and the 60 island-wide.
Cllr Doire Finn who organised the event thanked people for appearing and spoke of her heartbreak for Karen's two children. A minutes silence was held in her memory.
Speaking on behalf of of Women's Aid Armagh Down Clare Curran said "We had a vigil not two weeks ago for another local woman, Laura Marshall and last year we remember 18 women who were murdered. This year, in 2024 we have added seven more women to this list, and the number of women murdered in Northern Ireland is now 25 since 2020, and on the island of Ireland alone 60 women have been murdered since 2020.
"We want to remember and hold dear in our memories, all of the women who have been brutally taken from us in this local area, and in particular tonight, we remember Karen. These figures do not include the children who also lost their lives alongside domestic homicides, nor the children who are today left behind grieving their mother."
Ms Curran continued "So in the quiet moments, we remember Karen and the other lives that were taken. Their voices now silent, their light, though dimmed, still shines within us, a beacon of strength, love and resilience. We honor their memory with every breath, carrying forward their dreams and their laughter, In our hearts, they live on forever cherished. In our actions, their spirit finds new life and though the pain is deep, hope remains in the love we share, in the justice we seek. Together, we stand united and strong through their remembrance, our voices raised. This vigil is a gathering of family, friends and community coming together to remember and celebrate the lives of allof these women, and in particular Karen, who have been ruthlessly taken from us. We encourage everyone here to join us in advocating for change. By raising our collective voices, we can urge the government to take stronger actions in eliminating violence against women and girls."
Fiona McAlinden, Principal of Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry read a reflection. Karen attended the school and her daughter is now in Year 12 there.
Someone hears a song on the radio and it reminds them of you.
Someone has read a book you recommended to them and gotten lost in the pages.
Someone has remembered a joke you told them and smiled on the bus.
Someone wears a top and feels beautiful in it because you complimented them on it.
Someone has a memory of you that makes them happy.
Someone now likes themselves that little bit more because you made a passing comment that made them feel good.
Karen, your footsteps cannot be wiped away from the little marks of kindness that you left behind.
And I can hear you say, I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways of happy times and laughing times and bright on sunny days,
I'd like the tears of you who breathe to dry before the sun, because of the happy memories that I leave when life is done.
Finally Cllr Helena Young spoke "we all stand here in solidarity and support of Karen's family and her work colleagues. We all know the statistics, but these women are not statistics. They are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and work colleagues. And Karen wasn't just a mother to her own children, because she looked after so many of our children and their families in their times of need.
"It's really difficult, because I think this is about the third or fourth time that I personally have stood in Newry at a vigil like this over the last number of years, and I think that it is up to every one of us to help to do everything that we can to end violence against women and girls. But that is not something that we will focus on this evening, because we are here to stand in solidarity and support and to offer our thoughts and prayers to Karen's family and to her work colleagues, because they will need all of our support and prayers in the days, weeks and months to come as they try to come to terms with this absolutely devastating event, a life that was ended way too soon in such terrible circumstances."
A Go Fund Me Page has been set up. If you would like to support please go to www.gofundme.com
