Kildare based Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has marked the passing of Ashling Murphy in Senate today, and has called for action.
Senator O’Loughlin said, “I along with countless others in this country am still numbed by what occurred on the banks of that canal in Tullamore on the 12th of January. In broad daylight. Ashling Murphy, a beautiful 23-year-old year girl struck down while she ran alone along the canal. We cannot ignore this. We will not ignore this”
“As a person I am horrified, as an aunt and friend of young women I am frightened, but as a legislator I am determined to respond.”
“This must be our Veronica Guerin moment- this must mark a distinct turning point in our history and we must ensure that the death of Ashling Murphy does not fade into the history books unanswered. We have a duty to act..”
Fiona concluded “Our response must place the responsibility on the man, on the perpetrator. We need to tackle misogyny head on. The days of women and girls being blamed for aggressive male attackers targeting need to end.”