💜 DOMESTIC ABUSE-RELATED SUICIDE RECOGNITION LAW CAMPAIGN – PROGRESS UPDATE
When I started this campaign following the loss of my sister in October 2025, I never imagined how many people, organisations, charities and public representatives would engage with this issue in such a short period of time.
Starting this campaign while grieving, working full-time and managing family life has not been easy. There have been times when it has been incredibly difficult to keep going. However, my determination to seek answers not only for my own family, but for every family affected by domestic abuse-related suicide continues to drive me forward.
This campaign was created to highlight a significant gap in Northern Ireland's system: suicides linked to domestic abuse or coercive control are not formally recognised or recorded.
My goal has always been simple:
💜 When abuse leads to suicide, the law must recognise it.
📌 Progress So Far
✅ Launched the Domestic Abuse-Related Suicide Recognition Law Campaign
✅ Petition launched
✅ Established links with victims, survivors, campaigners and families across the UK
✅ Raised awareness through social media, community engagement and public support
⚖️ Justice & Government Engagement
✅ Justice Minister Naomi Long MLA
The campaign has now received multiple responses from the Department of Justice.
The Minister has confirmed:
📌 There is currently no single mechanism within Northern Ireland's legal system to identify or record suicides where domestic abuse or coercive control may have been a contributing factor.
📌 The Department of Justice does not hold data on domestic abuse-related suicides.
📌 Domestic abuse-related suicides currently sit outside the scope of Domestic Homicide Reviews.
📌 There is currently no ongoing work and no immediate plans to introduce a recording system or review process for these deaths.
📌 The Minister acknowledged concerns that this limits opportunities for learning, prevention and accountability.
📌 The Minister recognised the importance of continued discussion, awareness and collaboration across political parties, organisations and stakeholders.
📌 The Minister has offered to meet with me to discuss the campaign and hear more about the work being carried out.
✅ Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Justice
On 6 July 2026, the Committee formally acknowledged the campaign and confirmed they had considered my correspondence.
The Committee also confirmed that Women's Aid had independently raised the same concerns during submissions to the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc.) Bill.
Women's Aid will provide oral evidence to the Committee on 10 September 2026, where this issue is expected to be explored further.
🗣️ Support from Victims' Organisations
✅ Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime
The Commissioner's office confirmed support for exploring legal reform where domestic abuse and coercive control contribute to suicide and has called for Domestic Homicide Reviews to be expanded to include such cases.
✅ Victims & Survivors Service
Engaged with the campaign and invited further discussions.
💜 Women's Aid
Women's Aid confirmed they are campaigning for:
✔ Inclusion of suicide within Domestic Homicide Reviews
✔ Recognition of domestic abuse-related suicide within government suicide prevention strategies
✔ Enhanced police training following sudden deaths where domestic abuse is known
✔ Legislative change to allow accountability where abuse contributes to a person's death
Women's Aid have confirmed this will remain a key campaign issue leading into the 2027 Assembly Elections.
🤝 Charity & Organisation Engagement
✅ AAFDA – Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse
Providing guidance, expertise and support from their work across England, Wales and now Northern Ireland.
✅ Domestic & Sexual Abuse Helpline
Exploring opportunities for future collaboration.
✅ Andy's Man Club
Acknowledged the campaign and discussions remain ongoing.
✅ West Wellbeing
Expressed interest in meeting to discuss future support and collaboration.
🏛️ Political Engagement
✅ Connie Egan MLA
Agreed to share the campaign across her social media platforms and constituency networks.
✅ Paul Frew MLA
Confirmed he is considering how best he can support the campaign.
✅ Órlaithí Flynn MLA
Confirmed she is engaging with the Department of Justice and Minister regarding this issue and has supported raising awareness.
✅ Julie Middleton MLA
Invited me to meet and discuss how she can best support both myself and the campaign.
📊 Data & Accountability
✅ PSNI Freedom of Information Request Submitted
Reference: FOI/18011
Seeking information on current recording practices and data relating to domestic abuse-related suicide.
✅ Coroner Service for Northern Ireland
Confirmed domestic abuse and coercive control are not routinely recorded through current inquest processes, highlighting the need for improved recognition and data collection.
🦋 Collaboration with Other Campaigners
The campaign is building relationships and working alongside:
💜 Helen Francey – Northern Ireland Network Act (N.I.N.A.)
💜 Sharon Holland – Her Name Was Chloe Holland
💜 Jade's Law Campaigners
💜 Edwin Duggan
💜 Other campaigns who have signed, shared and supported one another's work
💜 Domestic abuse advocates, survivors, charities and support organisations across Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales
📢 Campaign Reach
The campaign has now engaged with:
• Minister of Justice Naomi Long MLA
• Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Justice
• Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime
• Victims & Survivors Service
• Women's Aid
• AAFDA
• Domestic & Sexual Abuse Helpline
• PSNI
• Coroner Service Northern Ireland
• Andy's Man Club
• West Wellbeing
• Connie Egan MLA
• Paul Frew MLA
• Órlaithí Flynn MLA
• Julie Middleton MLA
• Helen Francey (N.I.N.A.)
• Sharon Holland (Her Name Was Chloe Holland)
• Jade's Law Campaigners
• Edwin Duggan
• Various charities, advocacy groups, businesses and members of the public
💜 Looking Forward
There is still a long way to go, but in just six months this issue has moved from a personal tragedy to being discussed within government departments, justice agencies, victim support organisations, MLAs and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Every email sent, every meeting requested, every conversation held and every signature added to the petition is helping to ensure these deaths are no longer invisible.
The campaign now has official confirmation that domestic abuse-related suicides are not formally recognised, recorded or reviewed within Northern Ireland's current system. That confirmation alone demonstrates why change is needed.
💜 Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign so far.
Every share, conversation, message and signature helps raise awareness of an issue that has remained invisible for far too long.
Please continue sharing the campaign and helping us reach more families, survivors, professionals and decision-makers.
If you haven't signed the petition yet, please take a moment to do so using the link below. Don't forget to confirm your email address after signing, otherwise your signature will not be counted.
🔗 https://linktr.ee/DomesticAbuseSuicideLaw
Together, we can ensure that no victim is overlooked, no family is left without answers, and that domestic abuse-related suicide is finally recognised.
🦋 No More Invisible Victims
💜 Every Victim Matters. Every Family Deserves Answers.
Recognise • Record • Prevent