Killing Women: Femicide in Northern Ireland, 1922-2000

Summary

Collaborative Doctoral Partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), Belfast.

Since 2020, 29 women have been murdered in Northern Ireland, the majority of women murdered by someone they knew. A judge has called violence against women and girls the single biggest issue facing Northern Ireland society and the criminal justice system. Despite this, there has been no historical research on female murder in Northern Ireland.

Research project

This project will take a longitudinal approach looking at Northern Ireland, 1922-2000, to answer questions about whether this level of violence has changed: have the Troubles impacted female murder and how does Northern Ireland compare to other parts of the United Kingdom, Ireland and elsewhere.

Using court, inquest, police and official records as well as newspapers and media sources, the project will offer statistical conclusions about femicide in Northern Ireland and whether there has been change, if any, over time.

It will also analyse the contextual background to murders, places in which the crime took place, perpetrators, and conviction rates as well as how victims were represented in court and in the media.

This project will inform and develop understanding about the history of violence against women and girls and the attempts to end this in Northern Ireland.

At present, there is no guidance or support for archivists or researchers who are looking at potentially disturbing and traumatic records. Taking a trauma-informed perspective, the researcher will work with archivists for six months in PRONI to develop guidelines and recommendations around the issues of trauma in the archive.

As part of the internship, the researcher will help to organise an event for archivists and records managers to discuss suggested guidelines and to develop collaborative communities of practice.

The periods of internship will allow the event to be organised, take place and then guidelines and recommendations produced.

In addition, as the researcher will be using records held by PRONI in this project they will benefit from having use of space and facilities at PRONI as well as personalised supervision and support and access to available training.

To apply for this opportunity, a detailed and clearly defined research proposal is required along with an articulate personal statement.  Please note that we will only accept one application per applicant; multiple applications will not be considered.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• Research proposal of 1500 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)

This scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,000* (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).  A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum is also available.

To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National, or

• Have settled status, or

• Have pre-settled status, or

• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter, or

• be an Irish National

Applicants should also meet the residency criteria which requires that they have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the three years preceding the start date of the research degree programme.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

*Part time PhD scholarships may be available, based on 0.5 of the full time rate, and will require a six year registration period