We owe it to Ashling Murphy to say enough is enough

When will I get to stop writing these pieces?

The whole country is in shock, after news broke of Ashling Murphy's cruel murder yesterday. She was running along the canal bank in Tullamore, when she was attacked and killed. Ashling was 22 years old; a young teacher with her whole life stretched out ahead of her. What would she have gone on to do? What would her wedding have been like? Would she some day have been made principal of her school? How many children might she have had? It's gut-wrenching to think that that's all gone, in the blink of an eye.

Violence against women as perpetrated by men is a pandemic. Ashling Murphy should be getting ready for school right now. There are no words. pic.twitter.com/Ag6zVfONrY

— Muireann O'Connell (@MuireannO_C) January 13, 2022

The route Ashling jogged yesterday is a popular one and is within walking distance of Tullamore town. The attack took place in broad daylight, just after 4pm. Why do I feel compelled to say it was bright out? To somehow defend her position? A woman should be able to run in pitch darkness, alone, anywhere without fear of being murdered at the hands of a man.

I remember I was texting a guy who said he was going to go for a walk around 9pm and I was like you’re lucky you can do that, and he genuinely asked “why?”, I said because you don’t even have to worry about what time you can walk at, ever. Men don’t even realise their privilege.

— Aoibhín (@Aoibhin_B) January 13, 2022

We've written about this stuff time and time again, but nothing changes. We push back against the rhetoric of safety being on women and have started to ask, what are the men doing about this? We argue online with the 'not all men' brigade, we post photos and express our anger and our heartbreak for the poor families, and then we settle in to wait for the next time. We know by now that blaming women doesn't help, so what now? Surely our focus must shift to how violent crimes against women are handled in this country. Last week, two men were granted bail of €200 after brutally attacking 17-year-old Alanna Quinn Idris in Ballyfermot in Dublin. I have to ask, is there enough incentive NOT to attack women? The system is failing Alanna Quinn Idris, who now must recover in the knowledge that her attackers are free. I pray it doesn't fail Ashling Murphy too.

pic.twitter.com/8LCHZLe2tC

— Emmalene Blake (@emmaleneblake) January 13, 2022

Plan International says that in order to stop violence against women, we need to "transform attitudes towards harmful practices at multiple levels". The 'not all men' crew might think they're world's apart from fatal attacks, but if misogyny is a spectrum, catcalling is on one end and murder is at the other. In a world where harassment is laughed off, assault goes unpunished, women are not believed and men continue to benefit from the patriarchal society they find themselves in without so much as a whimper, nothing will change. Lest we forget, Sarah Everard's killer was nicknamed 'The Rapist' by colleagues. They knew something of his attitude and behavior towards women, and they did nothing.

Men need to listen to women. Men need to stop commenting on women's appearances. Men need to stop making sexist jokes. Men need to stop cat-calling. Men need to stop attacking women. Men need to stop killing women.

Ashling Murphy was going for a run, she did nothing wrong. — James Kearney (@JamesMFKearney) January 13, 2022

My heart is so sore for Ashling's poor family. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child, and in such a traumatic way. And I'm angry. This can't keep happening.

Gardaí are urging anyone who was in the Cappincur canal walk area of Tullamore before 4pm yesterday to contact them at Tullamore Garda Station on 057 932 7600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Irish Garda station.