Cousin of Concepta Leonard says ministers need to do more to protect abuse victims

The relative of a woman murdered in her own home has said executive ministers have not done enough to help victims of domestic abuse, following the murder of Vanessa Whyte and her children, James and Sara Rutledge on Wednesday.

Concepta Leonard, 51, was killed at her home near Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh in May 2017.

She was stabbed to death by Peadar Phair before he took his own life.

Concepta’s cousin, Marcella Leonard told BBC News NI that the justice and health ministers have not done enough to better understand the needs of victims, since her cousin’s death.

Speaking to Evening Extra, social worker Marcella Leonard asked “How do the agencies and our government respond appropriately to make sure that they can feel that everything is actually being done to try to prevent this from happening again?”

Addressing the issue of what has changed since the death of her cousin, Mrs Leonard said “there is certainly a greater awareness of domestic violence being on the strategic agenda’s, certainly councils are being very proactive around education, there has definitely been an improvement in raising awareness that this happens”.

However, Mrs Leonard added: “Do I genuinely believe that the justice ministers and health ministers have done everything that I would expect them to do in response to get a better understanding of the needs of victims? Very sadly, no.”

“I don’t believe that any other society, if they had the statistics that Northern Ireland are having at the moment, this would be an absolute priority.”

She added that “unfortunately here in Northern Ireland our politicians do not see that as a priority.”

“I know that they can come on the radio and talk about their strategic plans, but that is not filtering down to their investment in resources or services.”

Marcella Leonard is a qualified social worker with 35 years experience in child, adult, public safeguarding and protection.

She has also carried out reviews of some government services.

Mrs Leonard said she “had such concern over the lack of proactiveness of the justice department acting on a report I did in relation to a review of MARAC (multi-agency risk assessment conferences), that I directly asked to speak to the justice minister and that left me feeling worse about things, rather than reassuring me.”

BBC News NI has contacted the Department of Justice for a response.

Mrs Leonard also called for greater availability of services to help victims.

“It sits with them to set the strategic vision, but also to provide the investment into the services on the ground that make the practical difference, to be able to have 24 hour response, helplines and residential places for safety,” she said.

“If I think of my cousin I think of someone who would not have been perceived of someone who would’ve been at risk, we need to have a better sense of that it can happen within any age group, race, culture and creed.

“We have to recognise that this can happen to any person.”

Following the murders on Wednesday, the Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and the Justice Minister Naomi Long issued a joint statement saying: “We are horrified and heartbroken to learn of the tragedy that has occurred in Maguiresbridge.

“We send our deepest sympathies to the families affected and to the wider community in County Fermanagh,” they said.

“The shock of this terrible event is being felt by many people and we would urge those in need of support to reach out to services provided within the Health and Social Care system, and in the voluntary and community sector.”