MONAGHAN MOURNS ASHLING MURPHY

Co Monaghan has been caught up in the spontaneous outpouring of grief, and urgent calls for action to counter violence against women, which consumed the nation following the killing of 23-year-old Irish primary school teacher Ashling Murphy on Wednesday January 12 last. A noted traditional Irish musician, Ms Murphy died after being attacked while exercising at the Grand Canal in Cappincur near Tullamore in Co Offaly and was pronounced dead at the scene from her injuries.

An intensive Garda investigation of the crime was conducted in the days that followed. The Gardaí announced on Tuesday that a 31- year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of Ms Murphy’s murder and was being questioned at Tullamore Garda Station. The crime provoked nationwide outrage and gatherings where people conveyed their deep sympathy to the Murphy family and called on the Government to take fresh action…