Stormont hold vigil for Ashling Murphy
MLAs held a minute silence for the school teacher on Parliament steps
Last updated 17th Jan 2022
MLAs from Northern Ireland’s main political parties have gathered on the steps of Parliament Buildings at Stormont for a vigil and minute silence in memory of Ashling Murphy.
The County Offaly school teacher was killed in a random attack on Wednesday.
She had been out for a run along the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore.
Since her death vigils have been held across the Island of Ireland.
First Minister Paul Givan, deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood were among those who gathered around a picture of her and flowers.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson praised the display of unity at Stormont for the vigil.
He said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Ashling's family."
"It was such a terrible tragedy in a beautiful part of the island and I think it has reminded all of us of the dangers, particularly that women face when they go out and that shouldn't be the case.
"And I think if any good can come out of this tragic event, this tragic loss of life, it should be that we all redouble our efforts to make our streets and places safer for everyone, but most especially for women.
"It was good to see the unity there around that vigil of people standing together from different political backgrounds, making it very clear that we will not stand for this, and that we must ensure that the laws we pass here at Stormont are fit and suffice to offer the protection that people need."
While, NI’s deputy First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, said there must be a zero-tolerance approach towards misogyny and sexism.
She said: "If we are to break the cycle of male violence against women we need to develop an enforceable zero-tolerance approach towards misogyny and sexism while also exposing and challenging the everyday sexism that girls and women experience whether it be online, on the street or the workplace.
"Since Ashling's murder, countless women and girls across this island - myself included - will have been reflecting on our own safety as we go about our daily lives.
"Sadly, Ashling's murder is not an isolated incident. But it must be a watershed moment.
"How often do we hear that we are 'lucky' we weren't attacked? Because we had dared to walk a particular route, or be out at a certain time.
"Well, we aren't 'lucky'. We are angry.
"Because no woman or girl should ever have to face such disgusting attitudes, or the threat of abuse that destroys lives."
Ulster Unionist Party leader, Doug Beattie, said there was a need for societal change.
He said: "It was the most terrible murder.
"Sadly, this is all too often in our society today that our women and young girls no longer feel safe and there's a real danger out there and we must address this real danger.
"It's wonderful to see the outpouring of grief in regards to this terrible murder but that's not good enough, it's simply not good enough that a young woman can go out jogging in the middle of the day and be murdered in such a brutal way and that's happening more and more.
"Maybe it doesn't end up in a murder, but it's certainly ending up in other crimes against women and young girls.
"We need to address this, society needs to address this, individuals need to address this and we don't need to have more vigils.
"In fact, we need to have less vigils because if we have less vigils then there's less women being murdered in our society and that's what we need to address."
Meanwhile, Gardaí are waiting to interview a suspect in the murder of the young teacher.
The man is understood to still be receiving hospital treatment for several injuries and will need to be assessed before he can be questioned.
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