Yesterday’s killing in Co Offaly highlights the level of violence against women in Ireland. Every woman should have the right to be safe both in their own homes and in their communities. The focus should not be on what women should do to avoid harm, or on the places attacks occur, but firmly on the perpetrators of violence against women. Random killings are rare but women’s fear is very real.

Women’s Aid, a national frontline organisation working to prevent and address the impact of domestic violence and abuse, has called for zero tolerance of all forms of male violence against women in the wake of yesterday’s violent killing of 22-year-old primary school teacher Ashling Murphy who was killed as she ran along the Royal Canal in Tullamore.

Women’s Aid, who has kept a record of the violent deaths of women in Ireland since 1996, says that 244 women have now been killed since then with 87 per cent of resolved cases being perpetrated by a man known to the victim. Thirteen per cent of perpetrators were strangers.   

“The killing of women is the extreme end of a spectrum of violence and abuse that women in Ireland experience every day,” said Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid. “The appalling murder of Ashling Murphy is a shocking example of the dangers posed to women by violent men. While the killing of women by strangers is rare, it highlights the climate of fear in which women live our lives. We see on social media an outpouring of women’s lifelong experiences of misogyny and sexism and abuse. We are also hearing of the internalised fears many women carry no matter where they are in public places because of this. Any response to yesterday’s appalling events must not focus on places – it must focus on perpetrators. We must not fall into tired tropes of examining whether areas are safe but consider instead the attitudes and actions of men who make women feel unsafe even in crowded and well-lit areas. Not all men are violent. However, the majority of violence against women, and indeed men, is perpetrated by men. That’s something as a whole society, including men, we need to tackle.”

“Every woman should have the right to be safe, both in their own homes and in their communities. We need a zero tolerance to all forms of male violence against women and it will take all of us to commit to lasting change. This includes men who must act as allies in tackling misogyny and inequality. There needs to be investment in resources for education to change attitudes and we need an improved criminal justice system that better protects women. If we do this, we will ultimately create a more equal and safer society for everyone – men and women alike.”

Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 www.womensaid.ie.  

All local and national support services are listed at www.stillhere.ie.