Vigils will take place across the country on Friday in memory of Ashling Murphy, the 23-year-old teacher who was murdered while out running along a busy stretch of canal in Tullamore, County Offaly, on January 12.
The National Women's Council of Ireland will hold a vigil outside Dáil Eireann from 4-5 p.m. on Friday, with mourners encouraged to bring flowers and candles.
The Women's Council said that the vigil will remember Murphy and offer support to "all who knew and loved her".
Organizers asked anyone who is unable to attend the event to light a candle at 4:30 p.m. on Friday to honor Murphy's memory.
A minute's silence will take place at that time outside Dáil Eireann, the Women's Council confirmed.
Join us tomorrow outside the Dail, details below #VigilforAshling #AshlingMurphy pic.twitter.com/4J58FzerH7
— Womenscouncilireland (@NWCI) January 13, 2022
A vigil will also take place in the local town park in Tullamore at 4 p.m., while other vigils will take place in Derry, Belfast, and Limerick on Friday evening.
Mourners will also gather in Eyre Square in Galway at 6 p.m. on Thursday, while there will be a vigil in Cork City at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Atlantic Pond.
Updated:
— Womenscouncilireland (@NWCI) January 13, 2022
Dublin- #VigilforAshling, 4pm, Fri @ Dáil
Galway- 6pm, tonight @ Eyre Square
Limerick- 6pm, Fri @ Arthur's Quay Park
Cork- 9.30am, Sat @ the Atlantic Pond
Belfast- 4pm, Fri @ Belfast City Hall
Derry- 4pm, Fri @ Guildhall Steps
Tullamore-4pm, Friday @ Tullamore Town Park
More vigils for Ashling Murphy will be held on Friday, January 14 at:
- Armagh - Market Street, 4 pm
- Ashbourne - Arkle Monument, 4 pm
- Birr - John's Hall on John's Mall, 7 pm
- Bray - Bray Town Council, 4 pm
- Cappincur - Digby Bridge, 4:30 pm
- Carlow - The Fountain, 6 pm
- Clonmel - MainGuard, 6 pm
- Crossmaglen - The Square, 4 pm
- Drogheda - The Ramparts, 4:30 pm
- Dundalk - The Square, 5 pm
- Manorhamilton - Market Square, 7 pm
- Maynooth - Maynooth Square, 4 pm
- Navan - Blackwater Park, 4 pm
- Nenagh - Banba Square, 4:30 pm
- Newbridge - Newbridge Liffey Linear Park, 4 pm
- Thurles - Thurles Town Park, 6:15 pm
- Valentia Island - Cracow Park, 4:25 pm
- Waterford - Waterford Greenway at Carriganore, 4 pm
- Wexford - The Quay, 4 pm
Vigils will be held on Saturday, January 15 at:
- Belfast - Big Fish, 2 pm
- Cork - Patrick's Street, 2 pm
- Dublin - Sandymount Strand, 8 am
- Dublin - Smithfield Square, 1 pm
- Dun Laoghaire - Seafront entrance in People's Park, 4 pm
- Limerick - Bedford Row, 2 pm
- Mullingar - Mullingar Town Park, 4 pm
- Trim - wooden bridge at Trim Castle, 4 pm
More vigils will be held on Sunday, January 16 at:
- Athlone - Garrycastle entrance to the Greenway, 4 pm
- Kilkenny - Kilkenny Castle gates, 2 pm
- Moate - Dún na Sí, 4 pm
- Sligo - Doorly Park, 4 pm
Anyone attending the vigils is encouraged to wear face masks and maintain a social distance.
Gardaí have said that they will "leave no stone unturned" in their inquiries into the murder of Ashling Murphy.
Gardaí said on Thursday that a man in his 40s remains detained at Tullamore Garda Station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
Investigating officers said that there is no evidence to suggest that the attacker and the victim knew each other at this stage of their inquiries.
The suspect is reportedly known to gardaí and has been suspected in previous violent incidents. The man is a Romanian national and had been living in the Tullamore area for many years.
The attacker fled after two women interrupted the attack. Both witnesses gave a detailed description of the attacker to gardaí, who have set up an incident room at Tullamore Garda Station.
Gardaí investigating the fatal assault on a woman yesterday in Tullamore are appealing for info on a Falcon Storm mountain bike with straight handlebars & distinctive yellow/green front forks. Please call Tullamore GS (057 932 7600) or the Garda Confidential Line (1800 666 111). pic.twitter.com/MEwkWOujsC
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) January 13, 2022
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee described Murphy's death as "every woman and family's worst nightmare", adding that she shared people's shock and anger.
"This is a woman’s worst nightmare - while no woman should have to take measures when they’re going out and about to stay safe, Ashling was out during the day," McEntee said.
"It was bright, there was a lot of people about, and she was in an area local people always felt was safe."
My thoughts tonight are with the family of the young woman killed in a truly shocking crime, with her friends and with her community.
— Helen McEntee TD (@HMcEntee) January 12, 2022
Please anyone with information, come forward to An Garda Síochána. The Gardai will investigate this awful crime and ensure justice is done.
Comments