‘Harrowing and deeply distressing’ stories of coercive control victims’ experience of paramilitarism raised

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Sinéad McLaughlin has raised the ‘harrowing and deeply distressing’ stories of women who suffered coercive control from partners and spoke of the influence of paramilitarism in their contributions to a recent report produced for Foyle Women’s Aid.

The study by Dr. Aisling Swaine, Professor of Peace, Security and International Law at Sutherland School of Law, UCD, was carried out between 2021 and 2023 in the Derry area and featured testimony from women who had suffered coercive control.

The Foyle MLA raised it during a debate on tackling paramilitarism at Stormont.

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“It would be remiss of me not to mention recent research by the Foyle Family Justice Centre on the impact of paramilitarism on women and its connections with domestic violence.

Sinéad McLaughlin has raised the ‘harrowing and deeply distressing’ stories of women who suffered coercive control from partners and spoke of the influence of paramilitarism in their contributions to a recent report produced for Foyle Women’s Aid.Sinéad McLaughlin has raised the ‘harrowing and deeply distressing’ stories of women who suffered coercive control from partners and spoke of the influence of paramilitarism in their contributions to a recent report produced for Foyle Women’s Aid.
Sinéad McLaughlin has raised the ‘harrowing and deeply distressing’ stories of women who suffered coercive control from partners and spoke of the influence of paramilitarism in their contributions to a recent report produced for Foyle Women’s Aid.

“The report on that research calls it an unseen aspect of today's paramilitarism and one that is hidden in plain sight. I pay tribute to the women who came forward and told their stories, which were often harrowing and deeply distressing.

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"Their lives were permeated by fear not only of the abuser but of the threat that underlies the abuse,” said Mrs. McLaughlin.

The Foyle MLA said a new framework of ‘paramilitary-related coercive control’ identified in the research should be developed.

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"The issue must also be tackled through the new ending violence against women and girls strategy, and I am really concerned that the new strategy commits only £3 million to tackling the entire issue over two years.

"Perhaps, in response to the First Minister's point, money could be found in the other pot, the Communities in Transition pot, for supporting ending violence against women and girls,” she said.

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