Judge criticised over comment

At Londonderry Magistrate's Court last week, Mr McElholm was told by prosecution and defence lawyers that in several of the domestic violence cases before the court, the alleged injured parties had withdrawn their statements of complaint against their partners.

"There seems to be quite a few female masochists around this town, I don't understand it,” Mr McElholm said.

The judge's comment has been criticised by Marie Brown of Foyle Women's Aid, an organisation which counsels victims of domestic violence. Ms Brown, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List for her services to victims of domestic violence, said she hoped to meet Mr McElholm to discuss the issue.

"There are a range of reasons why women withdraw such allegations. It is a difficult decision for a woman to take someone to court when that someone is not a stranger but someone they have loved and lived with. Women have difficult decisions to make, either in relation to receiving counselling or in going to court. The issues in a woman taking her partner to court are obvious.

"The court process is a very difficult one for women to go through. We are trying to make the courts as simple a process as possible but there are major barriers in the judicial system for women who come forward. This comment is not my experience of this judge and I am disappointed he has used the term ‘female masochists’.

“I understand it is frustrating when statements of complaint are withdrawn but we have to look at it from the victim's perspective. We have to make sure we are getting these people through the judicial system and not attacking them,” she said.