DRCC: Marking first anniversary of Ashling Murphy’s death

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre today sent heartfelt wishes and renewed condolences to Ashling Murphy's family and friends as they meet 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.

 

/ENDS

Notes for editors:  

1. Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is a non-governmental, voluntary organisation which has as its mission to prevent the harm and heal the trauma of rape. It offers a suite of services to victims/survivors of sexual violence. It also offers a wide range of training and education to professionals and volunteers.  
• DRCC operates the National 24-hour Helpline 1800 778888 to support anyone affected by sexual violence in any part of the country. A webchat support service is available online at drcc.ie Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm. A Helpline Interpreting Service is available for those who do not speak English - more at https://bit.ly/DRCClang
• For those contacting the Helpline who are deaf or hard of hearing, we provide a text service, operating Mon-Fri from 8am to 6:30pm, at 086-8238443 and we also have a webchat service available Monday-Friday, 10am to 5pm, except holidays.
• DRCC offers counselling & therapy to adult survivors of sexual violence and to older adolescents from 16 years of age with parental/guardian consent.
• We provide accompaniment support for the Rotunda Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, to court or to Garda stations to people in Dublin and in surrounding areas, by arrangement.   
• We have outreach offices at Coolock, Dóchas Women’s Centre, Balbriggan & Tallaght. Access to these services must be arranged via the National Helpline 1800 778888 during working hours, Mon-Fri.   
2. We ask that when reporting on this topic, journalists should remember that discussions on sexual violence can trigger personal trauma in those receiving the information. Where possible, please make reference to the National 24-hour Helpline 1800 77 88 88 for anyone who may be affected by the report.