Figures recorded by Femicide Census over last 12 months indicate highest rate of matricide in 16 years
The names of 19 women believed to have been killed by their sons in the last year will be read out in parliament on Thursday, as research showed that almost one in five women killed by men since the last International Women’s Day were suspected victims of matricide.
For the 11th year running, Jess Phillips will read out the names of the 108 women killed in the UK by men – or where a man has been charged – in the last 12 months. In keeping with previous years, she will have to request special dispensation to speak beyond the time given to each MP in the International Women’s Day parliamentary debate, because reading the names will take more than five minutes.
Among the names, which are recorded by the Femicide Census project Counting Dead Women, are 19 mothers killed where their son is the suspect – the highest matricide rate recorded in 16 years of Femicide Census data.
Clarrie O’Callaghan, co-founder of the Femicide Census, said the organisation had watched in horror as it witnessed the growing problem of matricide in the UK, pointing to the collapse in mental health care, problematic substance abuse and housing insecurity as contributing factors.
