Senator Keogan: When a Pregnant Woman Is Killed, Two Lives Deserve Protection

24.07.2025

In light of the brutal murder of Sarah Montgomery—pregnant with her third child at 34 weeks—Senator Sharon Keogan has made an urgent appeal for justice: that unborn babies who die as a result of violence against their mothers be formally recognised in law as victims.

Her speech follows multiple heartbreaking cases where expectant mothers lost their lives—and their children—without legal recognition for both victims. One such case involved Ailish Walsh, 22 weeks pregnant when she was fatally attacked. No charges were brought for the unborn child.

Senator Keogan highlighted the shocking findings in the 2024 Women’s Aid report, which documented 188 women—pregnant or post-partum—supported due to intimate partner abuse. She called this a “national disgrace,” urging swift legal change.

“The Pregnancy Loss Bill is a start,” she said, “but it does not go far enough. If a child dies violently before birth, that death matters. It must be recognised.”

We strongly support Senator Keogan’s call for reform. Every life lost in violence deserves acknowledgment, especially when two hearts were beating.

You can read the speech by clicking this link here!