Derry rally organiser 'angry' and 'losing sleep' after attacks on women in city

The organiser of rally to oppose violence against women and girls in Derry has said she was "angry" and "losing sleep" following a string of attacks on women in the city.

Catherine McDaid, and SDLP councillor, said the rally has been organised to show "solidarity with the people that were attacked" and to show that attacks against women aren't "going to be allowed".

Speaking to Belfast Live, she said: "We won't stand for it, we won't let this happen. We'll stand up to people.

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"Derry is brilliant at fighting back when things happen in our community. We won't sit on our hands and wait for something to be done."

The rally is set to take place at 6.15pm at Guildhall Square in Derry city centre on Friday, and follows two knifepoint attacks against women in the Waterside area of the city last weekend.

The PSNI said earlier this week that detectives are considering the "possibility" the two attacks are linked.

The first happened in Drumahoe Park at around 10pm on Friday, when a woman was allegedly punched in the head, pulled into nearby trees and forced to the ground at knifepoint. She fought back, striking her attacker with her torch, and managed to escape.

The following day, at around 3pm in Top of the Hill Park, a woman was approached by a man armed with a kitchen knife, who "grabbed at" the victim before running off when she called out and swung at him with a dog lead.

Speaking ahead of the rally on Friday, SDLP councillor Catherine McDaid said: "On the back of the recent attacks, there was a lot of anger. As a woman I was afraid, I was angry, I was losing sleep over it.

"I wanted to do something to send a message to show that for people in Derry this is not acceptable. We won't stand for it, we won't let this happen. We'll stand up to people.

Derry is brilliant at fighting back when things happen in our community. We won't sit on our hands and wait for something to be done."

She added: "We'll show our solidarity with the people that were attacked and show that this isn't going to be allowed."

Asked about the response, she said: "It has been overwhelming, totally overwhelming. It's been growing and growing. There are community activists, local people, politicians, everyone is trying to help, to get involved and I'm expecting a really big crowd at it."

The PSNI has been carrying out patrols in what they describe as "key areas" including public parks, walkways and harder-to-reach areas.

A police spokesperson said: "Our officers have continued high visibility patrols in and around parks and walkways throughout the city today and this evening, this is going to continue in the coming days.

"We are actively engaging with our partners and communities to ensure women and girls feel safe and are empowered to go about their lives without fear."

Asked about the PSNI's response, Catherine McDaid said: "I can see that the police are working hard on their social media campaign.

"There does seem to be a higher number of police officers out there. Since I've organised the rally I've had daily contact with various police officers offering support and asking for advice about what sort of levels of support they could be providing. I think we need to get behind the police. I know some people don't have the best relationship with the police but we need support and we need protection, and that is their job. I think that they are doing what they can at the minute."

She added: "The community safety partnership has offered to come along too, and they are going to have personal alarms and information leaflets about safety which they will be giving out on a first come, first served basis."

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