Member's statement: Foyle: Attacks on Women
Member's statement by Mr Gary Middleton on .
- MLA
- Mr Gary Middleton
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 4 November 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Foyle: Attacks on Women
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4625166
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Over the weekend, in the Foyle constituency, we were shocked and angered that, once again, two young females were targeted in separate attacks. The community has expressed disgust and outrage at those who carried out those abhorrent attacks. Let us be clear: the events that unfolded were nothing other than terrifying, grotesque, sexually motivated attacks. The perpetrators remain — or the perpetrator remains — at large and must be brought to justice immediately. Someone somewhere must have information. From information that the PSNI has shared, we know that at least one of the attacks was premeditated, as the perpetrator attacked the innocent woman at knifepoint. It goes without saying that that is completely and utterly unacceptable and disgusting in every way. Justice must be served. It is also imperative that justice be served in a way that is fitting for the crime. Soft sentencing is simply not good enough. As an Assembly, we need to work together to ensure that legislation is introduced that allows for proper, tougher sentencing for vile acts such as the horrific ones witnessed by those females in Drumahoe and Gobnascale. We also must see societal change. There is no place in our society for misogyny or sexism, and, let me be clear, there never was a place for it. As citizens, parents, friends, family members and community members, we all have a duty to advocate change and better treatment of all women in our society. We must also give women's organisations proper support and get the message out that, day or night, every woman and girl should be able to walk and live freely inside or outside, as part of a group or alone. We owe that freedom, safety and confidence to every woman whom we know. We owe it to our daughters, sisters, wives, cousins, aunts, mothers, grandmothers and friends. We have a duty to protect them. We also have a duty to educate and inspire our sons, brothers, fathers and grandfathers. We must ensure that violence against women, which is all too prevalent in our society, comes to an end. We cannot afford for the lives of women whom we know and love to be ruined or ended. There is no justification. We owe that to every woman. On a final note, I send my thoughts to the victims and commend them for their bravery in reporting the attacks to the PSNI.
399 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).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.73).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.67).
- Subject area: Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups.
- 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 | 0.20 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.03 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.04 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.05 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.73 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.06 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.67 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.33 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.89 |
| Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues | 0.11 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:27 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reads every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.