“Enough is enough” was heard at a candlelight vigil in memory of the seventh woman murdered in Northern Ireland this year.
Karen Cummings, 40, a children's nurse, was found unconscious in a house in Banbridge last weekend and died a short time later from a head injury.
Earlier this week, two men appeared in court charged with her murder and were remanded in custody.
Crowds of people gathered for a vigil in memory of the mother-of-two at Solitude Park in Banbridge on Thursday evening.
During the event, organized by Women's Aid Armagh and Down, banners were held with the names of the 25 women killed in the region since 2020 and a minute's silence was observed in their memory.
The organisation's chief executive, Eileen Murphy, said the government must do more to combat violence against women and girls.
“Seven women, and the year isn’t over yet, have been murdered in Northern Ireland,” she said.
“We want to push the government to take real and appropriate action because if we don’t, we will continue to lose mothers and sisters, wives and daughters to violent criminals.”
Karen Cummings, 40, was found dead in a home on Saturday after suffering a head injury
Crowds of people gathered for a vigil in memory of the mother-of-two at Solitude Park in Banbridge on Thursday evening
During the event, organized by Women's Aid Armagh and Down, banners were held with the names of the 25 women killed in the region since 2020 and a minute's silence was observed in their memory
Noel McNally, father of Natalie McNally, who was pregnant when she was murdered in Lurgan, Co Armagh in December 2022, also addressed the gathering.
“Hearing about Karen's brutal murder reminded us of what happened to our Natalie two years ago this week and we know exactly what Karen's family is going through,” he said.
“We are heartbroken for her, but I know that you all are here tonight to support Karen's family, how much comfort they will get from this, because the comfort we got from the people who supported us, like Natalie died was absolutely fantastic.”
“Violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland must end.”
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon deputy mayor Kyle Savage said enough was enough.
“We come together here in mourning, in remembrance and in solidarity to honor the life of Karen Cummings,” he said.
“This should not have happened to her and we hope that by taking such a stance tonight it will hopefully be made clear and clear that something like this cannot happen again.”
“The violence that women face in our society can no longer be ignored or tolerated. Every woman has the right to feel safe and live free from fear of harm.”
“To Karen’s family and loved ones: Our hearts are with you in this unimaginable moment of grief.”
People attend a vigil organized by Women's Aid Down Armagh at Solitude Park in Banbridge following the murder of Ms Cummings
She was found in a house in Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland
Police and forensic teams remain at the scene as a murder investigation has been launched
“We grieve with you, we will continue to demand change.” This should be the moment when we say loud and clear: “It is enough, violence against women must end.”
Earlier on Thursday, First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly said ministers had discussed with concern the fact that seven women had been murdered in Northern Ireland in 2024.
At a Stormont executive meeting, politicians also discussed their strategy to end violence against women and girls.
“This is not acceptable to anyone, but it also shows that we have a deep-rooted problem in society, that there is still a lot of work to be done and it is not up to one body, one government department, one institution to solve this problem.” ' said Ms O'Neill.
She said preventative work was “critically important.”
Ms Little Pengelly added that the Executive wanted to send a “really clear message about the unacceptability of the levels of violence against women and girls and all violence in general”.
“We are absolutely dismayed by the latest murder, as the First Minister said, it is the seventh this year. “It's a challenge everywhere. The values are particularly high in Northern Ireland. That’s why we decided to publish this strategy along with the delivery plan,” she said.
“And of course our thoughts are with the family and all the families of the women who were killed this year, but we are committed to bringing even more attention to this very, very tragic issue next year.”'
