Over half of NI women murdered since 2020 believed to have been strangled before death

Researchers say women who are strangled once are 750% more likely to be later killed by the same man.

More than half of the women who were murdered in Northern Ireland since 2020 are thought to have been strangled at some point by the man who went on to kill them, according to a study.

Researchers have described non-fatal strangulation, in which a woman is strangled but survives, often without visible marks or medical attention, as “the last warning shot” before abuse turns fatal.

Women who experience non-fatal strangulation are 750% more likely to be killed later by the same man.

The Queen’s University Belfast study examined the deaths of women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, in instances where case details were available.

It found that in 55% of the cases accessible to researchers, the killer is believed to have strangled the woman on a previous occasion or during the attack that ended her life.

Non-fatal strangulation only became a standalone criminal offence in Northern Ireland in June 2023.

It covers any intentional or reckless restriction of another person’s breathing or blood flow, including pressure applied to the neck, chokeholds, or covering someone’s mouth and nose.

The study found the abuse is often downplayed as ‘choking’, but that strangulation can cause serious lasting harm whether or not the person loses consciousness or is left with any visible marks.

Women’s Aid NI said people who experience non-fatal strangulation can face life-changing consequences, including damage to the neck, stroke and permanent brain injury.

The organisation’s Karen Devlin told The Irish News that strangulation comes up regularly among the women the charity works with, and that many do not recognise what has happened to them.

“Many victims may not remember being strangled or what happened during the incident because of the impact of oxygen deprivation on the brain,” she said.

“They may describe having ‘blacked out and not remembering what happened’. Following an incident, a victim may also appear disorientated, experience difficulty speaking or wake up having soiled themselves or have slurred speech as a direct result of the strangulation.”

Ms Devlin said the seriousness of the offence was “still not fully recognised in our society, despite how prevalent it is in domestic abuse situations and the significant risk it can indicate of a perpetrator going on to seriously harm or kill their victim”.

Dr Aishling McMorrow, who oversaw the research at Queen’s, said the danger is still not widely understood despite the shocking statistics.

“If a woman experiences non-fatal strangulation, she is 750% more likely to be murdered by that person at a later date,” she said.

“In over 50% of cases there are no visible external injuries, despite significant internal injuries.”

She added: “It’s not common knowledge, and that’s the gap we’re trying to fill.”

The research found that non-fatal strangulation “should not be treated as a one-time assault, but rather a practice homicide”, and that even a single incident is “a clear indicator of future, escalated and lethal violence”.

Researchers believe that strangulation as a cause of death for women is far more common in Northern Ireland than elsewhere.

Across the UK, the Femicide Census found 27% of women murdered by men were strangled or asphyxiated.

However, in Northern Ireland, it is believed to have been a factor in the cause of death in almost half of the femicide cases where data was accessible to researchers.

“When you compare that to England and Wales, it just doesn’t map. There seems to be something going on in Northern Ireland in relation to strangulation,” Dr McMorrow said.

She said she believes the findings point to a wider problem within society here.

“We think it directly links into the high levels of misogyny, hatred of women and girls, and femicide in Northern Ireland,” she added.

The research, titled Under Pressure: Know the Signs, is set to go before MLAs at Stormont on Monday, amid calls for the Department of Justice to change the law so that non-fatal strangulation cases must only be heard in a Crown Court, with powers to hand out tougher sentences.

Neither of the Executive’s strategies on violence against women and domestic abuse mentions strangulation.

“We really feel that given what’s going on in Northern Ireland there needs to be long-term funding and a campaign raising awareness about non-fatal strangulation, because too many women are dying,” Dr McMorrow said.

Asked what message she hoped people would take from the research, Dr McMorrow was clear: “Strangulation is exceptionally common in Northern Ireland, and if you experience non-fatal strangulation in a relationship, then you need to get out of that relationship safely.”

Specialist services stress that leaving an abusive relationship can be the point of greatest danger, and advise anyone planning to do so to contact a specialist organisation first, who can help them make a plan.

Karen Devlin said: “If you have experienced non-fatal strangulation, please know that support is available. You are not alone, and you can talk to someone when you feel ready. We are here to listen, without judgement.”

Anyone who has been strangled is advised to seek medical attention even if there is no visible injury, as serious internal injuries can be delayed.

The Freephone 24hr Domestic & Sexual Abuse Helpline, managed by Nexus NI, can be contacted on 0808 802 1414.

Source: Over half of NI women murdered since 2020 believed to have been strangled before death – The Irish News