Ashling Murphy: Vigils held across island of Ireland in memory of murdered teacher

Q Radio News/PA

A vigil in Belfast in memory of murdered Co Offaly teacher Ashling Murphy has been described as a “watershed moment” in highlighting the issue of violence against women.

Stormont deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill made the remarks as she joined with several hundred who gathered at the front of Belfast City Hall to pay their respects to Ms Murphy.

A small photograph of Ms Murphy was laid on the ground alongside a banner which read “Her name was Aisling”.

Dozens of people left bunches of flowers and lit candles which they placed in front of the photograph of the 23-year-old teacher who was attacked on the banks of the Grand Canal outside Tullamore on Wednesday afternoon and died at the scene.

Young musicians who knew and had played with Ashling Murphy performed during the vigil.

Following the reading of a poem highlighting the issue of violence against women, the crowd paused for a minute’s silence.

The crowd included Sinn Fein MLA Caral Ni Chuilin and SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole.

Elaine Crory addresses a vigil at the gates of Belfast City Hall in memory of murdered teacher Ashling Murphy (23) pic.twitter.com/GZqwOW52Ve

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 14, 2022

One of the vigil organisers, Emma Gallen, said: “We all saw the news, we all saw about Ashling Murphy, and we all thought we had to do something.

“We couldn’t just stand by and not acknowledge that a murder happened in daylight of someone who was at the beginning of her life.

“We wanted to mark the grief that we all feel and to come together to mark how sad we all are, and how angry we all are.”

Ms O’Neill said there had been an “outpouring of grief” following the murder.

She said: “At the start of this week I launched a strategy. I called for views in terms of developing a strategy to tackle male violence against women.

“Little did I know on Monday that I’d be standing here only a short number of days later, joining with other women who have gathered here outside Belfast City Hall to show solidarity to the family and all that loved Ashling Murphy.

“A horrific murder of another woman in our society at the hands of a male.

“We are all here because we want to show that support, that love.

“There has been an outpouring of grief all week for Ashling Murphy and for all that loved her.”

A vigil is being held at the gates of Belfast City Hall for Ashling Murphy (23) who was murdered on the banks of the Grand Canal outside Tullamore in Co Offaly on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/oiVo9W1sLu

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 14, 2022

The deputy First Minister said vigils taking place across Ireland demonstrated women saying that violence against them needs to stop now.

She said: “We are here because we are saying enough is enough.

“It needs to stop, the violence against women and girls needs to stop now. Male violence against women and girls needs to stop now.

“I think the sheer fact that right across every town, village and county across this island today people are gathering in large numbers to remember Ashling Murphy shows that women have had enough.

“We are entitled to feel safe, we are entitled to be safe. We are entitled to go for a run.

“We are entitled to go to work and feel safe, we are entitled to go to the shops and feel safe.

“I think this is a watershed moment in our society today.”

Events took place at a number of other locations in Northern Ireland including Derry/Londonderry and Newry.

Musicians play as hundreds of people attend a vigil in memory of Aisling Murphy in Belfast. Picture: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire