Karen Cummings will be ‘remembered always’ by nursing colleagues at Daisy Hill Hospital, says trust

Karen Cummings will always be remembered by her paediatric colleagues at Daisy Hill Hospital, the Southern Trust has said.

The PSNI launched a murder inquiry after the mother-of-two died after being found unconscious and suffering from a serious head injury inside a house in the Laurel Heights area of Banbridge on Saturday evening.

Treatment was provided at the scene but the 40-year-old was pronounced dead a short time later and a 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene.

A second man in his 30s was detained on Sunday afternoon when he presented himself at a police cordon outside St Patrick’s cemetery on the Dromore Road in Banbridge after emerging from a nearby farmyard.

Ms Cummings, who was a children’s nurse in Daisy Hill Hospital, has been described as both a “cherished daughter” and “beautiful soul”.

A death notice for Ms Cummings said she was the devoted mummy of Curtis and Zara, cherished daughter of Margarita and stepdaughter of Andrew, and loving granddaughter of Mary and the late Jim McQuaid.

The Southern Trust said its thoughts and sympathies are with Ms Cummings’ family, friends and colleagues.

“Karen was a valued member of our staff and we have all been shocked and saddened by her untimely death,” said the trust.

“Karen will be very sadly missed and remembered always especially by her paediatric nursing colleagues at Daisy Hill Hospital.”

Women’s Aid NI also expressed their sympathies and highlighted the number of women who have been killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.

“Please know our thoughts are with you all at this incredibly distressing time and we cannot begin to imagine what you are going through at the moment, especially at this time of year,” they said.

“Karen is the 25th woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, the vast majority of whom were murdered in their own homes. She is also the seventh woman to be murdered in Northern Ireland in 2024.”

Social media tributes said she was a “beautiful angel” and a lovely person”.

One tribute read: “RIP to this beautiful soul. My heart is so sore right now. Karen Cummings was one of the best girls I’ve ever met… thinking of her family and her friends right now.”

Another said: “Feels like it was only yesterday since you sat in my car and had a wee heart to heart with me. Heaven has gained another beautiful angel. RIP sweet girl Karen Cummings.”

In a joint social media post, Aghaderg Gaelic Football Club and Ballyvarley Hurling Club expressed their “deepest sympathy” to the family members of Ms Cummings.

They said: “Aghaderg GAC & Ballyvarley HC are saddened to learn of the sudden death of Karen Cummings, mother to our U16 Camog, Zara.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to Zara and Curtis along with immediate and extended family members. Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a hAnam.”

Deputy Alliance Party leader Eoin Tennyson said violence against women and girls continues to be a crisis.

“I think it’s incumbent on all of us in society now to reflect on what we can do to challenge misogyny and sexism in our society,” he stated.

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart called the circumstances surrounding Ms Cummings’ death as a “tragic and brutal”.

“My thoughts are very much with the Cummings family, a young life taken in its prime,” she told Good Morning Ulster. “Right at the heart of this there is a family, a family grieving.

“A death at any time of the year is difficult but particularly at this time of the year given the tragic and brutal circumstances of this murder.”

She added: “I would encourage people to come forward to the PSNI if they have any information and I would also encourage people to give time and space and avoid speculation as has been requested by the police in instances like this.”

Twenty-five women have been murdered in Northern Ireland since January 2020, with over 33,000 reports of domestic abuse against women made to the PSNI in 2023 alone.

Ms Lockhart called this figure “stark” and appealed for affirmative action in the form of increased police presence, “stronger conviction rates” and “tougher sentencing”.

“We have got to demonstrate that it’s not acceptable to attack women in this day and age whether it be in the workplace or whether it be at home or out in society,” she said.

News Catch Up: Monday 16th December