'No women should live in fear': Rally held after knifepoint attacks

Liz Campbell and Collette McCallion say they showed up to show solidarity

About a thousand people have attended a rally to oppose violence against women and girls in Londonderry in the wake of two reported knifepoint attacks in the city.

A woman was assaulted at knifepoint in Drumahoe last Friday, while on Saturday afternoon a woman walking her dog in Top of the Hill was approached by a man holding a kitchen knife.

Extra officers were deployed in the city following the attacks, but Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said on Thursday that sustaining that policing operation would be "a challenge".

Organisers of the rally at Guildhall Square on Friday said it was held to show solidarity with the women attacked and demonstrate that these kind of incidents will not be tolerated.

A number of pictures of women killed were displayed on the steps of the Guildhall

Diane Greer said she was a keynote speaker at a rally in Guildhall Square more than 35 years ago that was calling for greater safety for women and said it's bitterly disappointing to see that things have not really improved.

"I remember we held that rally after there was a spate of attacks on women near Derry Walls and we decided to have a rally involving a number of women's organisations," she said.

"There was about a hundred women who met in the Diamond and marched down Shipquay Street and held a rally in Guildhall Square, just like this one," she said.

"It's incredibly disappointing, desperately sad really, that again after all the years, after another spate of attacks, here we are again."

Diane Greer says she is disappointed that a rally like this still need to be held

Ms Greer said there is "definitely a sense of fear out there" and said she has noticed that she has "moderated her own behaviour" because she no longer feels safe to do certain things she once enjoyed.

"I love walking in forests and exploring remote places on my own, but I no longer feel safe to do that," she said.

"I have a daughter and I have granddaughters and I am here today for them really because they should not have to live in fear - no women should live in fear."

Fifi Garrert and Glen Miller handed out attack alarms at the rally

Glen Miller and Fifi Garrett handed out personal attack alarms at Friday's rally.

"These recent attacks have been deeply shocking to many people throughout the local community," he said.

"Talk isn't enough and we need to take action and a rally like this shows that we support the women in our city.

"I think there is definitely a recognition and acceptance that men need to do more and should be calling out predatory behaviour when they see it and challenge it.

"We want people to understand that sometimes what people may think is 'a silly wee joke' is creating a narrative that isn't healthy and isn't welcome and can feed into some other behaviours."

Mr Miller said handing out alarms is "a small thing" to help people feel safer in the here and now, but said a longer-term strategy is necessary to tackle this societal problem, with a particular focus needed on educating young men going forward.

Shannon Shiels says she is "sick and tired" of constantly looking over her shoulder when walking at night

Shannon Shiels told BBC News NI that she wanted to attend the rally because she is “sick and tired of looking over her shoulder everywhere I go“.

“I can’t walk my dog at night alone without bringing a torch with me or telling someone where I am,“ she said.

“I’m sick of the onus always being us as women to do these things to feel safe, it shouldn’t be up to us.”

A number of people addressed a packed Guildhall Square on Friday evening

Liz Campbell and Collette McCallion told BBC News NI they attended to show that this city will not stand for women feeling unsafe.

They, like many others, held placards calling for an end to violence against women.

'It's important to be here as men'

Conor, George and Oisín said they wanted to attend the rally to show their support as men this evening.

“I think it’s important to be here as a man, Conor said.

“I think there is a civic responsibility to show other women that there are men who have their best interest at heart and have their back.

“It was a really nice event, albeit under horrible circumstances.”

Oisín, who is 27, said this is a societal problem and men need to be able to call out misogyny and "behaviour that could snowball".

Conor, George and Oisín says it is important to attend the event as men

A number of politicians from various parties - including SDLP leader Claire Hanna; DUP councillor Niree McMorris; People Before Profit’s Maeve O’Neill and Sinn Féin’s Aisling Hutton - and a number of representatives from local women’s organisations addressed the packed Guildhall Square.

Those in attendance were told that women deserve to be safe in their own city and whole-scale societal changes are needed to ensure women and young girls feel safe right across the island of Ireland.

The names of a number of women, their age, and when they were killed were then read out to a hushed crowd.

A moment’s silence was then held to remember each victim.

A rendition of Dreams by the Cranberries was then performed by local singer Cora Harkin to close the rally while many people sang and waved torches