Vigil Held for Murdered Mother Karen Cummings

A candlelit vigil was held in Solitude Park, Banbridge, to honor Karen Cummings, a 40-year-old mother of two and a respected paediatric nurse who was tragically murdered in her home, marking the 25th female murder in Northern Ireland since 2020. The vigil, organized by Women’s Aid Armagh-Down, was attended by hundreds from various sectors of society, uniting in grief and calling for an end to violence against women. Two men have been charged with her murder, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding her death, which was ruled a gunshot wound. Local officials, including Lord Mayor Sarah Duffy, expressed their condolences and emphasized the urgent need for community action against domestic violence. The vigils in Banbridge and Newry serve as stark reminders of the ongoing violence faced by women in the region, exacerbated by the proximity to the Christmas season. Attendees reflected on the pain of losing Cummings and the necessity of collective action to address and prevent such tragedies.