A Belfast student who was sexually assaulted after meeting a man on a dating app has appealed to other survivors to seek immediate help, stressing the importance of forensic evidence in securing justice.
The woman, known only as Sophie to protect her identity, was 20 when she moved to Belfast for her studies. During a short-term relationship, she was subjected to what a judge later described as a “degrading and frightening” assault.
Her attacker, 25-year-old Fearghall Joseph Mulgrew from Stewartstown, County Tyrone, was jailed in April 2024 after pleading guilty to sexually and physically assaulting her. He was sentenced to 22 months, with 14 months served on licence.
The pair had met on the dating app Tinder in March 2021 and engaged in consensual sex. But Sophie recalled how Mulgrew later disregarded boundaries, ignoring their agreed safe word and subjecting her to violent biting.
“He bit me in intimate areas where I had to kick him to get him off,” she told BBC News NI. “He held my mouth closed with his teeth so I couldn’t say anything. That’s what sticks with me the most.”
Despite being traumatised, Sophie attended the Rowan sexual assault referral centre soon afterwards. Although she did not report the attack to police until almost a year later, the early forensic evidence proved vital.
“I would advise that, even if you’re unsure, just get yourself looked at,” she said. “If I hadn’t gone to the Rowan, reporting to the police would have been 100% more difficult. The photographs, swabs, and statement they took were invaluable.”
Her case is part of a wider conversation about tackling violence against women in Northern Ireland. Since 2022, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has implemented an action plan to address violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Between September 2022 and August 2025, police made more than 5,000 arrests under new legislation, averaging 84 arrests per month for domestic abuse and 19 for stalking and abusive behaviour. They also issued four stalking protection orders.
In the year to July 2025, the PSNI recorded 21,729 VAWG offences — a 4% decrease compared with the previous 12 months.
Detective Chief Inspector Leah Crothers, one of the PSNI’s leads on tackling VAWG, said progress requires shared responsibility. “Tackling violence against women and girls requires commitment from all — where perpetrators are held to account, communities stand together, and every space is made safe.”
Sophie echoed that message, arguing that blurred lines of consent and misogynistic attitudes are still too common. “Too many men see women as objects. Education is key, and women must feel supported enough to report abuse.”
For survivors like her, the message is clear: seeking immediate help is not only a step toward healing but can also be crucial in bringing abusers to justice.
If you have been affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence, support is available through the BBC’s Action Line.