Member's statement: Tavia Da Costa
Member's statement by Mr Colm Gildernew on .
- MLA
- Mr Colm Gildernew
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 21 October 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Tavia Da Costa
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4603431
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Unfortunately, I rise to address an issue that touches on the one raised by Emma Sheerin: the absolutely unacceptable nature of violence against women and girls in our society. Yesterday, I attended the funeral of baby Tavia Michella Ximenes Da Costa. I want Members to know that the East Timor community is a huge asset to the community in Dungannon and the South Tyrone area: it is a wonderful, close-knit community of hard-working people who bring a deep and rich culture to our shores. I was struck by the dignity and poignancy of the funeral service, which was hugely impactful on our community. I also acknowledge Lisnahull Residents Group's holding of a vigil on Saturday evening. That also sent a poignant and powerful message to those in that community about the support that they have in our area. In their native Tetum, I say this to that community: Ita-nia lakon mak ita-nia lakon no ita-nia laran-susar mak ita hamriik hamutuk ho ita iha momentu triste ne'e. That translates as, "Your loss is our loss, and your pain is our pain. We stand with you in this time of grief".
189 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.06 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.79).
- Subject area: Immigration, asylum, race, ethnicity and Travellers.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.11 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.04 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.06 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.08 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.06 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.79 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.21 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Immigration, asylum, race, ethnicity and Travellers | 0.67 |
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.20 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.10 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.01 |
| Another identity-related subject | 0.01 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:23 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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