A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a pregnant woman in the town of Donaghadee, County Down.
Sarah Montgomery was 27 years old and a mother of two.
On Newstalk Breakfast, crime journalist Amanda Ferguson described it as “absolutely devastating news”.
“Detective Chief Inspector Tom Philips said police received a report at around a quarter past two on Saturday afternoon that a woman was unconscious with a serious injury in a house in the Elmfield Walk area of the town,” she said.
“Officers attended, Northern Ireland Ambulance Staff attended and provided medical treatment at the scene.”
Reaction
Ms Ferguson added that Ms Montgomery’s friends and neighbours are “stunned” by the news of her death.
The man arrested in connection to her death remains in police custody.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said news of Ms Montgomery’s death was “heartbreaking”.
“A young woman with her whole life ahead of her, taken in the most devastating way,” she said.
“Another family left shattered. Two children left without their mummy.
“Ending violence against women and girls must be a priority for every single person right across our society.”
Violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland is not just a statistic – it is a grim daily reality for many.
We heard from @WomensAidNI about the extent of the problem and the UK Government's role in tackling it. pic.twitter.com/9qGvkgU3L4
— Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (@CommonsNIAC) June 26, 2025
Deputy First Minister Emma Little described the news as “just horrifying”.
“We know the work to tackle violence against women and girls will require a long term approach, but I am so angry at every single murder and act of violence,” she said.
“It must stop.”
Earlier this year, Ulster University noted that Northern Ireland is widely considered to be “one of the most dangerous regions in Europe for women”.
Between 2019 and 2024, 30 women and girls in the province died at the hands of men.
Main image: Sarah Montgomery. Picture by: PSNI.
