Northern Ireland has a serious problem when it comes to violence against women and girls.
That is not comment but a fact based on statistics.
The latest victim is 22-year-old Mary Ward. Her murder is a tragedy for her family and for those who loved her, but there is also a wider issue in terms of how violence against women is dealt with here.
Mary reported an alleged assault in early September, a man was arrested, questioned and released on police bail.
A month later and the same man has now been arrested in connection with her murder.
It is right that the PSNI have referred themselves to the Police Ombudsman for an investigation linked to the handling of their dealings with Mary — who was a vulnerable young woman — in the days before her death.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who this week has been facing awkward questions over Sinn Fein’s mishandling of the Michael McMonagle case, took time out to express concern that the police themselves are facing investigation over the events before Mary’s death.
“In terms of the policing response, I think we need to get to the heart of that, what has gone wrong here,” she said.
“Questions need to be answered and I am prepared to meet with the chief constable and to work with others in terms of establishing all the facts around this horrific case and another tragic loss of a female life.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly is correct that the problem will not be resolved overnight, but unfortunately is just as correct to bluntly point out that violence against women “happens much too frequently”.
During a press conference yesterday, the PSNI also referred to the killing of Kyle McDermott in Co Tyrone.
A man has now been charged with the manslaughter of the 24-year-old.
But tackling violence against women and girls requires a different approach and needs more than a glossy brochure presented to the public at a press conference with carefully scripted speeches.
Initiatives and ideas are fine but must be fully followed through.
And when perpetrators are caught they need to receive adequate sentences that reflect the seriousness of the crime.
For too long Northern Ireland has been a place where the safety of the most vulnerable has been low on the list of priorities.
That needs to change.