A public consultation on family law reform in Northern Ireland has opened, seeking views on whether to automatically restrict the parental responsibility of anyone convicted of the murder or voluntary manslaughter of a person with whom they share a child.

The consultation, led by the Department of Finance, was launched on Tuesday and will run until 8 February 2027. It also explores whether similar automatic restrictions should apply to other serious offences, including attempted murder, serious sexual offences and the most serious crimes against children.

Finance Minister John O'Dowd said the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children are among the most fundamental responsibilities of government. He said there had been a number of highly distressing domestic homicide cases in recent years, several of which directly impacted children through exposure to violence, trauma and bereavement. He said decisions on parental responsibility are currently dealt with case-by-case by the Family Court, often requiring bereaved family members and carers to navigate legal processes at a time of profound grief.

O'Dowd said he wants to see legislative reform that places children's welfare and victims' rights at its heart while easing the burden on families. He said a Bill would be brought forward in the early part of the next mandate.

The proposed changes follow similar legislation in England and Wales known as Jade's Law, which is set to come into force in December. It automatically suspends a perpetrator's parental rights upon sentencing for the murder or voluntary manslaughter of a partner or ex-partner with whom they share children. The Republic of Ireland has passed similar legislation called Valerie's Law.

DUP Foyle MLA Julie Middleton welcomed the consultation. She said under current law, a parent who kills the other parent can keep legal say over their children's schooling, medical care and travel, and that families must go to court to stop that. She said the consultation asks whether parental responsibility should be restricted automatically once offending is proven in court, and that she believes it should.

Middleton also welcomed the decision to look beyond domestic homicide to attempted murder, serious sexual offences and the most serious crimes against children. She referenced the murder of Amy Doherty in Londonderry earlier this year, saying the case has driven the debate and that Doherty's family had shown bravery and resolve.

Sonya McMullan, regional services manager at Women's Aid Federation Northern Ireland, said parental responsibility is a right not a privilege and that the consultation provides scope to widen family law.

Carey Baxter, chairperson of Men's Alliance Northern Ireland, said anything that improves the situation for children must be welcomed. He said the organisation would support the removal of parental responsibility where convictions are in place, but raised questions about the timing of when such restrictions apply.

It is understood that around 30 families in Northern Ireland have been impacted by this issue over the last six years.