More than 80 per cent of crime victims in Northern Ireland are not confident they will receive justice and the system needs to improve, Queen’s University researchers say.
Dr Katie McGaughey and Professor Cherie Armour from the School of Psychology at Queen’s brought together a group of policymakers, laywers, psychologists and community and voluntary sector representatives in a bid to understand the problems victims face when they interact with the legal system. They were also focusing on the role that trauma plays.
Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Dame Siobhan Keegan, and Victims’ Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland, Geraldine Hanna also attended and spoke at the event.
Dr McGaughey from Queen’s says: “We know from the 2025 Victim Survey Report, that in Northern Ireland, more than 80 per cent of crime victims are not confident that they will receive justice. It is clear that the system needs to improve. In order to make positive changes, it is vital that we understand the problems and impact of this, and the role that trauma plays.
“Today, we have brought together those who work with victims, who understand victims and who can hopefully make a difference in driving forward improvements in the system.”
During the event, Professor Cherie Armour led a panel session with solicitors and psychologists. They focused on the need for victims to be taken seriously, where the system fails victims and how misconceptions about trauma and memory might impact sentencing decisions. They also discussed how frontline staff can deliver trauma-informed care, and communication with victims.
The panel also included members of the solicitor safety group, who have themselves been victims of crime. There were valuable discussions on how navigating the system as a victim changed their perspective.
Professor Armour comments: “Our key focus was exploring how we can make things better for victims. We look forward to continuing discussions, and we hope this will result in positive change for victims of crime.”
Commenting on the importance of partnership, Geraldine Hanna, Victims' Commissioner Designate, says: “Close collaboration between academics, practitioners and policy makers is vitally important to help progress positive change for victims of crime in Northern Ireland.
“Since I took up this role, I have heard time and time again from victims whose confidence in our justice system has been shaken by their experience.
“Events like today are so important, because bringing people together helps us to identify evidence-based solutions that can make a real difference in the day-to-day experience of victims of crime.”
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