Minister vows to ‘shake up’ Domestic Homicide Reviews

JUSTICE Minister Naomi Long has vowed to shake up Northern Ireland’s Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRS) after the sentencing of Daniel Allen who killed three generations of the one family in a fire in Derrylin six years ago.

A consultant in domestic violence awareness has welcomed the commitment from Minister Long to bring legislation in line with other parts of the United Kingdom.

Confirmation of the move came from the Department of Justice, with a spokesperson stating: “The Minister is committed to extending the DHR process.

“Once a review of the current process has been completed, we will be able to provide an estimated timescale for the inclusion of domestic abuse-related suicides.”

It’s a huge change from the position a year ago when the same questions were asked, and while deaths by suicide had been considered, there was no indication of inclusion.

The news comes following the sentencing of Allen who was recently jailed for at least 29 years for killing four people in a blaze near Derrylin in 2018.

He denied murdering his partner, Denise Gossett, but admitted manslaughter by reason of a suicide pact.

Nuala Lappin, who previously worked as a specialist PSNI Domestic Violence Officer, said whether a victim has been killed in a domestic attack or taken their own life as a result of abuse “there must be parity across all”.

“The entire mindset on this offending must change, because statistics show more and more deaths occurring in these behind-closed-doors situations.

“With Northern Ireland currently running equal with Romania for the highest number of domestic deaths in

Europe, every action available must be utilised.”

She said the “frightening figure suggests it’s no coincidence Northern Ireland has reached the shocking levels it has, with the lack of legislation and will to support real and sustained change”.

Ms Lappin added how it was “regrettable that there are domestic deaths which in many instances could well be preventable”.

“Murders and actions which lead to death at the hands of a domestic perpetrator are investigated as such, although even that at times has been challenging.

“Yet the victim, who simply cannot take any more and ends their life by suicide, is simply swept aside as if of no material value. No probe into potential reasons.

“Realistically, the perpetrator aware of the story behind-closed-doors is not going to push for answers,” she said.