Derry 'won't accept' violence against women, protest told

A crowd of around 1,000 people has attended a rally in Derry to protest at violence against women and young girls.

Demonstrators held up large photographs of some of the 24 women killed across Northern Ireland during the past four years.

Others carried placards calling for an end to violence against women. Personal attack alarms were also handed out.

The Rally for Women's Safety at The Guildhall was organised after a serious of attacks on women in the city in recent weeks.

Last weekend, two women were assaulted by a man armed with a knife in separate attacks in two parks.

Both managed to fight off their attacker. Police are investigating whether the same man was involved.

Two other women were also the victims of separate attacks.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area in an attempt to give reassurance, but women have spoken of a climate of fear and a growing sense of threat.

Organiser of the rally, SDLP Councillor Catherine McDaid said she was astonished by the large turn out.

"I'm so proud of our city, we always come together and we'll show that our community won't accept this," she said.

"People are feeling afraid, they're feeling frustrated with the system, they're feeling frustrated with society so I wanted to faciliate a space for people to come out, to come together and show their support and their solidarity and I think the numbers have shown that it was a good idea to facilitate it."

SDLP leader Claire Hanna travelled from Belfast to attend the event.

"I think it's important that people have an opprtunity to come together and offer each other comfort," she said.

"Women in this city are genuinely very frightened because of the attacks of the last few weeks and I think women further afield are worried about the devastating rate of femicide in this region."

The crowd was told that Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill had been due to attend the rally but had to cancel due to a family emergency.