Marking first anniversary of Ashling Murphy’s death

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has today sent heartfelt wishes and renewed condolences to Ashling Murphy's family and friends as they meet on this first anniversary of her death, noting that the State had made progress in recognising and taking action on violence against women in the year since this awful event, but that efforts must be sustained and stepped up to eradicate this scourge on our society.

DRCC’s Chief Executive Officer Noeline Blackwell said “Our hearts go out to the Murphy family and Ashling’s friends and loved ones on this sad anniversary. The outrage and disquiet we still see after this terrible event reminds us all that violence against women and gender based violence generally remain a critical problem in our society which can and must be substantially reduced. Today and every day, people in Ireland will suffer grievous harm as a result of abuse, and as we have seen in in the past year, some also suffering the ultimate abuse of another person ending their lives.

“We remind everyone who has been abused or assaulted that it is never, ever their fault and that those who carry out such abuse are wrong. We remind them that supports towards healing and justice are available through ourselves and similar agencies.”

Ms Blackwell noted the welcome recognition by Government in the year since Ashling’s death that wide-ranging and sustained effort is needed right across government to reduce violence against women in its many forms, particularly through the publication of a new national strategy for zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

She urged all actors to move swiftly to implement the strategy, saying: “We must have a place where those who are abused and violated can get solid protection, where those who carry out such abuse are stopped and where we build a society which understands and respects consensual sexual behaviour and does not tolerate any form of violence against women and girls.”

The free and confidential 24-hour National Rape Crisis Helpline is available at 1800778888.