Nine men, three women and two children have been murdered in the last 12 months.
Floral tributes left at the scene following the murder of Sarah Montgomery at her home in Donaghadee, Co Down in June 2025(Image: Jonathan Porter/Press Eye)
Nine men, three women and two children have been murdered in Northern Ireland over the last 12 months. This includes 10 murders in less than two months.
By early September, the PSNI had launched murder probes following the deaths of 10 people in NI since the end of June.
The aftermath of the murder of pregnant mother-of-two Sarah Montgomery in Donaghadee this summer led to renewed focus on the rate of violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.
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Ms Montgomery, 27, died at her home in Elmfield Walk in the Co Down town in June along with her unborn son Liam Arthur. A man has appeared in court charged with her murder.
And the murder of a mum and her two children just a month later brought to 30 the number of women and girls killed here since 2020. Vanessa Whyte, a veterinary surgeon originally from Co Clare; her son, James, and daughter, Sara, died after a shooting in Maguiresbridge on July 23, 2025.
Here we are reminded of all those who have died in violent or suspicious circumstances to date this year.
Jordan Webb
In November, Jordan Webb was named as the man who has died in Portavogie as police launched a murder investigation.
The emergency services were called to a property on New Harbour Road in the Co Down village just after 7am on Monday, November 3, with 28-year-old Jordan being pronounced dead at the scene.
Kai William Johnston, 21, from Springfield Gardens in Portavogie, later appeared charged with his murder.
Barry Furfey was 42 years old(Image: PSNI)
42-year-old Barry Furfey was found seriously injured at an address in the Wardsborough Road area of Lisburn in the early hours of Monday, 15 September, and later died in hospital from his injuries.
37-year-old Jamie Spence of no fixed abode and 38-year-old Melissa Atkinson have appeared in court following the death. Both are charged with Mr Furfey’s murder.
‘Chrissy’ Christopher Burns(Image: PSNI)
Christopher ‘Chrissy’ Burns was the victim of a fatal attack in the Cusher Green area of Mountnorris of Co Armagh on September 4. Mr Burns was aged in his 40s and was originally from the Warrenpoint area.
Aaron McAnulty, with an address at Cusher Green in County Armagh, has appeared in court accused of his murder.
Sean Small(Image: PSNI)
Sean Small, 84, was found at his home in Slievenabrock Avenue, Newcastle, on Sunday, August 24 after suffering a “brutal and sustained” attack. Mark Bready has appeared in court charged with his murder.
Shane Tony Lowry
Shane Lowry was stabbed to death at his home in Mulberry Park in the Twinbrook area of West Belfast on August 21. His brother Martin Lowry has appeared in court charged with his murder.
Stephen Brannigan(Image: Charles Rourke & Sons Funeral Directors )
Stephen Brannigan, 56, was found in a house in Marian Park in Downpatrick on Sunday, August 10. Hugh Malone has appeared in court charged with his murder.
Vanessa Whyte with her children Sara Rutledge and James Rutledge
Vanessa Whyte and her children James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, were shot dead at a property in the Drummeer Road area in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh on July 23. Ian Rutledge, the children’s father and Ms Whyte’s husband, fatally shot himself in the same incident.
Paddy Douglas
Patrick ‘Paddy’ Douglas, 55, died from his injuries in hospital after the blaze in the Main Street area of Ballymoney on Tuesday, July 1. A 34-year-old woman has appeared at court charged with his murder. The accused cannot be named for legal reasons.
Sarah Montgomery(Image: PSNI)
Sarah Montgomery, 27, died at her home in Donaghadee on June 27. Zak Hughes, 28, has appeared in court charged with her murder as well as child destruction as Miss Montgomery was pregnant.
Newry Courthouse (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
Igors Gavrilovs died after suffering a “serious injury” in the Fisher Park area of Newry in June. Zivile Geringiene, 50, of no fixed abode, has appeared in court charged with murder, the offence aggravated by reason of involving domestic abuse.
Flowers at Marie Green’s house (Image: Justin Kernoghan)
Marie Green, 71, was pronounced dead in the early hours of Tuesday, June 2 at a house in the Shore Road area of North Belfast. Her son, Lewis Green, 31, has appeared in court charged with her murder.
Adam Krzan
Ryan Patrick Kerr, 34, is accused of killing 71-year-old Adam Krzan in Dungannon, Co Tyrone on February 27 this year. Mr Krzan, a Polish national who had lived in Northern Ireland for 20 years, was discovered with multiple stab wounds at his flat in the Corrainey Park area.
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