Woman ‘held in room and fed via cat flap for years’

Detectives in Northern Ireland are investigating the case of a woman allegedly held prisoner in a house in Co Armagh for years – and fed through a cat flap. The shocking case was reportedly discovered when the PSNI were called to a house to investigate a “domestic row”, thought to be in the Craigavon area.

Police spoke to children in the house, and they innocently pointed them towards the room where the traumatised woman was incarcerated. The officers were deeply shocked by what confronted them. The reason for the woman’s imprisonment is unclear, and police sources say that she was unable to make herself understood to them when they freed her.



A man has been arrested in connection with the allegations, and the Southern Health and Social Care Trust has been called in. A statement from the PSNI said: “Detectives are conducting an investigation into allegations of neglect and abuse. “Given the sensitive nature of the investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.

“This is a complex and lengthy investigation and we would ask for the continued support of the community.” The police statement added that a 56-year-old man has been arrested and has been released on bail pending further inquiries. The health trust has asked that the family are not identified in order to protect the children involved.