When Will Ireland Change its Ways, Stand Up, and Fight for Women’s Safety?

Ciara BrowneDeputy News Editor This article includes news on sexual assault allegations and the murder of Ashling Murphy. Please do not read if you feel you may be triggered.Gardaí are investigating an alleged sexual assault on teenage girls in Sligo with several scenes sealed off and extensive appeal for information issued from the Gardaí. The alleged assault is said to have been outside Sligo town, Saturday night, January 22nd 2022. A number of scenes have been sealed off as part of the criminal investigation.Detectives believe the suspect may have left Sligo after the alleged attacks, but have since taken complaints from the teenagers, and undertaken forensic examinations of several scenes. An area of the Maugheraboy GAA grounds has been sealed off since Sunday, January 23rd, as well as a house less than 1km away, as it is said to be a potential crime scene. Gardaí are appealing for information from people who were in the area and surrounding areas where the assaults are alleged to have taken place and where other potential scenes of interest are located.Garda Headquarters said detectives in Sligo want to speak to anyone who “noticed any activity which caught their attention”, (The Irish Times), between 8pm and 10pm in Ballydoogan, Oakfield and Maugherboy County Sligo. Gardaí have also pleaded to any road users, and those who were recording dash cam footage to contact the investigation team and to make the footage available to them for investigation purposes. This news comes ten days after the attack and murder of Ashling Murphy, 23 year old Irish primary school teacher from Tullamore, County Offaly. Ashling was attacked and killed while jogging along the Grand Canal, just outside Tullamore on Saturday 12th January 2022. The murder caused women and citizens of Ireland and London to take to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook sharing the caption, “she was going for a run”, on their social media accounts. Vigils took place for Ashling all around Ireland, in London and in surrounding areas. The devastating news has led the people of Ireland to question the society that we live in, stating that men “need to do better”, (Irish Examiner), and how “every single one of us must call out misogyny”, (The Irish Times).The Minister of Further and Higher Education, Mr. Simon Harris, told a vigil held in memory of Ashling Murphy on the grounds of Mary Immaculate College that politicians, particularly men, need to stand up and take action against misogyny and violence against women. Mr. Harris told thousands of people gathered with candles on the grounds of Ms. Murphy’s alma-mater, Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in Limerick: “I wanted to be here because I’m a man, a farther, and a politician, and I know that our gender, and our profession, need to do better, we need to do much more.” Mr. Harris went on to state, how as fathers, “we have a duty in how we raise them, in how we ensure they are part of a cultural change: as politicians we have got to change the system.” This change includes a duty to ensure that third-level is safe, and that “every single one of us, as men, must call out misogyny and we must stand up and speak out”, (Breaking News). The Minister encouraged those of Ms. Murphy’s generation and future generations to continue to demand change.Student Counselling and Development (SCD) is a free confidential service to all UCC registered students, providing individual counselling to students with emotional, psychological, academic or personal development needs. Due to Covid19, the UCC SCD is operating remotely. To arrange an appointment, students can email counselling@ucc.ie. UCC also has 24 hour campus security to ensure a safe environment for all students, staff and visitors using the campus, and UCC Niteline is a telephone service for students. Students can contact Niteline on 1800 32 32 42. UCC Bystander Intervention are encouraging students to join the programme to learn how to, “be an effective Bystander.” UCC Bystander took to their Instagram account on January 13th, stating how we are “running out of excuses for sexual harassment & violence so let’s stop it now.” UCC students and citizens of Ireland stand in solidarity with the women of Ireland.