Banbridge murder victim Karen Cummings was a mother-of-two who worked as a paediatric nurse at Daisy Hill Hospital.
Tributes have poured in for the 40-year-old Karen Cummings, who was found with a “serious head injury” on Saturday and, sadly, later pronounced dead.
Described in a family notice as a “devoted mummy” and “cherished daughter”, her death was described as “an absolutely shocking incident” by the local MLA Eoin Tennyson.
Described in online tributes as “a lovely person” and a “beautiful, kind lady and nurse”, Mr Tennyson said Karen Cummings has become the seventh woman killed in Northern Ireland this year.
Police said on Saturday evening that a postmortem will take place in due course. Two men have been arrested in connection with the investigation, both of whom remained in custody on Saturday evening.
One colleague, in a touching tribute published on social media, wrote: “Karen, you were an absolute lady and I’m glad I had the time to work alongside someone so special. Deepest sympathy to the entire family. You will be missed dearly.”
Another said: “Rest in peace Karen, such a pleasure to have known you and worked along side you. Heartbroken, you will be so sorely missed.”
She is described in a family notice as “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 family notice continues: “She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her heartbroken children, mother, stepfather, grandmother, her uncles Eugene and his wife Karen, Philip and his wife Alison and Martin and his partner Stephanie, her auntie Wendy, her cousins, her friends, her Paediatric nursing colleagues at Daisy Hill Hospital and the entire family circle.”
In a statement, Alliance MLA Eoin Tennyson said: “This is an absolutely shocking incident, and today is a dark day for the local community. My thoughts and condolences are with Karen’s loved ones as they come to terms with this tragic loss.
“Karen is the seventh woman now to be killed in Northern Ireland just this year. This is a devastating statistic, and violence against women and girls is a sickening scourge on our society that must be eradicated.
“We must all recommit ourselves to the Executive’s recently launched framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls and do everything we can to put a stop to all forms of violence, harm and abuse in our society.”
Councillor Joy Ferguson added: “It’s difficult to understate the level of shock people here are feeling right now after such a horrific incident. I want to extend my thoughts and sympathies to Karen’s family and loved ones, who will be facing the unimaginable today. I have no doubt the community will rally around them at such a difficult time.”
