Ministers visit Newry centre supporting rural victims of domestic abuse

The Justice and Agriculture Ministers have met staff helping to support domestic abuse victims living in rural communities.

Naomi Long and Andrew Muir heard from staff at Women’s Aid Armagh Down (WAAD) during a visit to the charity’s headquarters at the ELEOS Centre in Newry, which coincides with Rural Crime Week.

They were specifically interested to find out more about how WAAD supports women and children living in rural communities who are affected by domestic abuse.

Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “Domestic abuse can occur in any family and in any home, but we know that it can disproportionately impact women and children in rural communities.

“That’s why the services provided by Women’s Aid Armagh Down are so important; they are delivered in the heart of the community, meaning they can transcend the isolation and stigma exploited by perpetrators in rural areas.

“It is essential for services like this to exist to provide women and children with the help they need to escape from domestic abuse and also to recover and thrive as they move on with their lives.”

Andrew Muir, the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, said: “My department continues to work alongside the Department of Justice, the PSNI and others to better understand and respond to the challenges faced by our rural communities in NI when it comes to crime. I recognise and acknowledge the detrimental impact crime can have, affecting the lives and livelihoods of people in rural communities. It is particularly important that we shed light on the issue of domestic abuse in rural areas, where these crimes can often go unnoticed and unreported and victims can be more isolated.

“I wish to commend the work of the Women’s Aid in supporting all women and children, including those in rural areas, who have experienced domestic abuse. This is just one example of the vital work the voluntary and community sector continues to do to support some of the most vulnerable in our rural communities.”

WAAD, which was established in 1983, provides refuge and community-based support services across the council areas of Newry, Mourne & Down and Armagh, and Banbridge & Craigavon, which has one of the highest recorded incidents of domestic and sexual abuse.

Helen Cranney, WAAD Acting Chief Executive, said: “We welcomed the visit from Ministers Muir and Long to our Resource Centre in Newry today.

“It is essential for the Ministers to see what is happening on the ground to support women and children in our community. We talked to the Ministers about our Wellbeing programme and other initiatives that are changing people’s lives.

“The Ministers also had the opportunity to see the first phase of our ELEOS early intervention centre of excellence.

“We are currently engaged in a £3million capital fundraising project, led by our CEO Eileen Murphy, to deliver this three-phase centre for women and children dealing with domestic abuse.”