Five women have been killed in Ireland this year, data from Women’s Aid has revealed.

Every year since 1996, the organisation has kept track of the number of women who have died violently.

Women’s Aid does so because “more public awareness of the signs, signals and patterns that lead to femicide is needed”.

Patricia ‘Pat’ Muckian

The first woman to die violently in Ireland this year was Patricia ‘Pat’ Muckian, who passed away 10 days after she was allegedly attacked with an axe at an event in her niece’s house on May 3rd.

Patricia 'Pat' Muckian. Image: rip.ie

Ms Muckian was from county Louth and was the former general manager of Dundalk Credit Union.

A relative of Ms Muckian’s, Nicholas Muckian, was charged with her murder at a sitting of Dundalk District Court in July.

Daena Walsh

In August, Daena Walsh was found dead with suspected stab injuries in her home in county Cork.

Gardaí believe she was attacked before her flat was then set on fire.

Daena Walsh. Image: rip.ie

Ms Walsh was a 27-year-old mother of two native to county Wicklow.

In August, her partner Adam Corcoran was charged with her murder and remanded in custody.

Vanessa O’Callaghan

Vanessa O’Callaghan died following an assault by three people as she left a soup kitchen in Cork city centre.

The mother-of-three had been given some food and a sleeping bag by a volunteer group when she was attacked on December 1st.

Vanessa O'Callaghan. Image: rip.ie

She passed away peacefully surrounded by family on December 4th.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up for the family to help cover funeral costs, which you can visit – here.

Searon Naughton

Searon Naughton died in hospital following an alleged serious assault at her home in county Galway.

Searon Naughton. Image: rip.ie

The mother-of-five passed away on December 14th after succumbing to the injuries from the assault.

Owen Naughton, her husband, was charged in connection with the incident.

Paula Lawlor

Paula Lawlor was found bruised and unresponsive in her home in Wexford on December 19th and was later pronounced dead.

Paula Lawlor. Image: rip.ie

It is suspected she had been brutally beaten by a man known to her in her home in the early hours of the morning.

A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene but was released without charge.

According to the United Nations Global Study on Homicide: Gender Related Killing of Women and Girls, 137 women are killed by a partner or family member every day across the globe.

In Ireland in 2023, seven women were killed at the hands of femicide.

Main image: Patricia 'Pat' Muckian. Image: rip.ie