Suspend parental responsibility for co-parent killers campaign launched in Derry

Human Rights advocate Edwin Duggan has launched the campaign for legislation in the North automatically suspending parental responsibility for parents who kill their co-parent.

The launch of the campaign, which would see the introduction of the equivalent of Jade’s Law here, took place in Derry’s Guildhall on Thursday afternoon.

Jade’s Law was initiated by Karen Robinson and Paul Ward, the parents of Jade Ward, and Mr Duggan, following her murder by her ex-partner, Russell Marsh, in 2021. It was officially introduced to the Victims and Prisoners Bill by British Justice Secretary Alex Chalk in October 2023 and has effect in England and Wales but not the North.

Speaking in the Whittaker Suite, Mr Duggan said he had spent years working with families devastated by both domestic and knife related homicide.

He added that in the past few weeks several residents in the North had reached out to him with the same urgent question: ‘When will we be protected in the same sort of way?’

“Today we will begin the work of answering that question,” said Mr Duggan. 

“Northern Ireland is statistically one of the most dangerous places for women in Europe. Recent reporting shows more than 30 women have been killed since 2020 by a partner, ex-partner or husband,” he added.

“Many of these women were mothers. Many left behind children who are now being raised by grandparents, relatives or guardians doing their best to rebuild shattered lives. 

“This is not a sense of isolated tragedies, it is a problem, it is a trend, it is an emergency.

“Behind every statistic is a family -  a child who has lost their mother, a grandmother suddenly raising traumatised grandchildren, a family navigating grief, trauma and the legal system all at once. And in Northern Ireland, these families can still be forced to, for instance, consult with the killer on schools, medical treatment, on travel, consult the killer on the most basic decisions affecting the child’s life.

“This is not justice. This is not compassion. This is not protection. This is a legislative gap and it must be closed,” said Mr Duggan who described Jade’s Law as “simple and humane”.

“It ensures that parental responsibility is automatically suspended when a one parent is convicted of murdering the other,” he added.

“The burden of having to go through lengthy court action is reversed. The convicted individual must prove why they should retain any rights. 

“Families are protected from re-traumatisation, legal battles and forced contact. 

“This is not about punishment. It is about child protection. It is about safeguarding. It is about ensuring the rights of the convicted killer never outweigh the welfare of the child. 

“Northern Ireland has an opportunity right now to incorporate a Jade’s Law equivalent into the Criminal Justice Bill currently before the Assembly. This is the moment. This is the window. This is the chance to ensure that no family here is left behind Without this reform, families will continue to face unnecessary legal battles. Children will continue to be exposed to further trauma. Guardians will continue to be forced into contact with the person responsible for the unimaginable harm,” said Mr Duggan.

If enacted in the North, the Jade’s Law equivalent would join Valerie’s Law in the Republic of Ireland, giving All Ireland rights to families bereaved through domestic homicide.

Valerie’s Law is a proposed legislative change aimed at automatically suspending or removing child guardianship rights from parents who have been convicted of murdering their spouse, civil partner, or the other parent of their child. 

It is named in honour of Valerie French Kilroy, a mother of three who was murdered by her husband, James Kilroy, in 2019 and is on the priority list for publication in the Spring 2026 legislative programme.

Marie Brown, CEO of Foyle Women’s Aid and Family Justice Centre, told The Derry News her organisation was fully behind the campaign and urged as many people as possible to sign the open letter calling for the enactment of Jade’s Law in the North.

The link to the letter can be found at: https://openletter.earth/petition-for-jades-law-equivalent-in-northern-ireland-b289f72a. 

“Although there are guidelines here in Northern Ireland, they are nothing more than guidelines and really things have not been working well, which puts a lot of stress on families that have been through a homicide,” said Ms Brown.

“They may be faced with other turmoil that could be avoided if we had clear guidelines, if  we had a law to protect victims and to ensure that the best interests of everybody concerned was adhered to.

I worked with this situation 28 years ago. It has been going on a long time and there probably should have been a law here by now, but we start today,” said Ms Brown.

Foyle MLA Julie Middleton (DUP) said the issue transcended politics.

“It is above and beyond political football or political parties. This is about safeguarding,” she added.

“We have a massive problem. People in this room are acutely aware of it. I always mean what I say and what we need is action and I am supportive as your Foyle MLA and I will do my part.

“I am here not just as an MLA but as a female and as a mummy. I feel this issue deeply and I don’t think we should have a moment of momentum and then let things go. We need to push and push and push and I will do my part.”