Debate contribution: Protecting Victims of Coercive Control

Debate contribution by Mr Timothy Gaston on 5 May 2026.

MLA

Mr Timothy Gaston

Party at the time

Traditional Unionist Voice

Date

5 May 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Protecting Victims of Coercive Control

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5525278

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I start by stating that coercive control is one of the most dangerous forms of abuse. Why do I say that? I say it because it usually happens in the shadows, out of sight and behind closed doors. The motion rightly looks at coercive control and at how it can be exploited in the courts, particularly in family courts. Today, we have heard example after example of how that is being allowed to happen. It happens in the shadows in our society, and the House called it out today, and quite strongly. Sinéad said that coercive control does not always leave bruises. Claire said that coercive control does not end when a relationship ends. Those are striking examples of what is a scourge on our society. Doug Beattie, in a very powerful contribution, said that coercive control is a prison sentence without bars. He referred to people as young as 12, 13 and 14 being involved in such practices. My amendment shifts the dial and the focus slightly. It keeps the focus on coercive control but shows that it is not just happening in our courts but in our constituencies. We heard a number of examples. Cara Hunter talked about a case in which the victim was catfished. The most striking case of all was mentioned by Gerry Carroll. He referred to a letter from the mum of Michelle Downey, who died by suicide in 2017 owing to the ill effects and problems associated with coercive control. Time after time today, MLA after MLA got to their feet to expose the failings that exist out there. Mr Frew said that it was essential that all the cogs work together and that victims come forward. That is so important. We saw what happened in the Máiría Cahill case. When victims have to wait, they relive, endure and, sadly, owing to the obstacles that are put in their way, eventually walk away, because the delay is unbearable.

Absolutely. A report — it may not be the same one — by Foyle Women's Aid on what takes place made for harrowing reading. On that point, I will refer to Máiría Cahill's book, 'Rough Beast: My Story and the Reality of Sinn Féin'. Chapter 17 states:

"We were in Gerry Adams's office, Breige and I. Siobhán O'Hanlon had let us in while Gerry was out. She pushed a yellow Post-it note across the circular meeting table to me. It read 'What do you want to happen to him?' I knew she was asking me whether I wanted Morris killed."

There is a prime example of the grip that paramilitaries have had in Northern Ireland and the way that it plays out today. The Máiría Cahill case exposes many failings, and I trust that the justice system and all the other Departments, which are pivotal, work together to get it right and ensure that the failings that Máiría experienced do not happen to anybody else in society. I agree with Connie, who raised the point that we need to do more to promote awareness of what coercive control is, because when many people get into a relationship, they think that it is normal. That type of behaviour is not normal, and the pattern of behaviour shown by some men is not normal. We need to do all that we can in our power to encourage victims to come forward and ensure that they will be listened to and that action will be taken.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:38 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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