Member's statement: Family Courts

Member's statement by Ms Connie Egan on 17 February 2026.

MLA

Ms Connie Egan

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

17 February 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Family Courts

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5394284

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I will highlight the experiences of individuals in the family courts system and, primarily, the fact that ensuring the welfare of children and victims of domestic abuse is paramount. Since I joined the Justice Committee over a year ago, constituents of mine in North Down and others from across Northern Ireland have reached out to me for help — help in keeping themselves and their loved ones safe in an incredibly adversarial process. Responsibility for family law and its processes in Northern Ireland is something that, I sincerely believe, needs to be demystified. The Department of Finance has responsibility for private family law, the Department of Health has responsibility for public family law, and the Lady Chief Justice is responsible for the proper functioning of the courts and the administration of justice. That can create great difficulties for those who engage in such matters and who wish to raise concerns and bring about change. So much could be said about the process; honestly, much of what I have been told by those who are going through the system has been heartbreaking and of deep concern. There are clear and emerging high-level themes, including the need for the voices of the children involved to be heard more; the lack of information-sharing between civil and criminal courts, particularly in child contact proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse; the lack of openness and transparency around family court processes; and the experience of many victims who feel retraumatised, through family court proceedings, by post-separation abuse. In December, the office of the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime launched an incredibly useful report: 'Totally Invisible'. It focused on the experiences of domestic abuse victims and children who engage with family courts in Northern Ireland. The report includes the lived experiences of victims and survivors of domestic abuse, and, from that, the commissioner designate developed a really worthwhile set of recommendations. The proposals include presumptions against contact with children in cases of domestic abuse; mandatory training on domestic violence and abuse for all members of the judiciary and legal professions; and reform of the family courts system as a whole. Last week, I met the commissioner designate, Geraldine Hanna, who informed me that her office is now taking forward a task and finish group with buy-in from the Health, Justice and Finance Departments to establish terms of reference and a business case for a pilot on how to work family courts differently. I am also aware that the Lady Chief Justice issued new guidance in that area last June. That work is incredibly important and positive, and we cannot and must not forget why it has to happen. It is vital to protect parents who have been subject to domestic violence and who are simply trying to keep themselves and their children safe in the toughest circumstances.

473 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:39 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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