{"id":24820,"date":"2022-01-18T08:30:08","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T13:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24820"},"modified":"2022-01-18T08:30:12","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T13:30:12","slug":"funeral-hears-that-ashling-murphys-murder-was-a-depraved-act-of-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24820","title":{"rendered":"Funeral Hears That Ashling Murphy’s Murder Was A ‘Depraved Act Of Violence’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Musicians forming the guard of honor wait outside St Brigid’s Church, Mountbolus, Co Offaly (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A \u201cdepraved act of violence\u201d which deprived Ashling Murphy of her life has united the country in grief and support, mourners at her funeral have been told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan said the murder of the 23-year-old woman has asked questions of \u201courselves and of society\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The body of Ms Murphy, a talented musician and teacher, was found on the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore in Co Offaly, sparking a murder investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her death has intensified debate around women\u2019s safety and prompted calls for more to be done to tackle gender-based violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huge crowds gathered for the funeral in the village of Mountbolus, and outside St Brigid\u2019s Church, where Ms Murphy\u2019s funeral mass is being held.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bishop Deenihan told mourners that Ms Murphy\u2019s murder has questioned attitudes, particularly attitudes towards women, and \u201cour values and morality\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhether those questions will be addressed or passed over remains to be seen, but we cannot allow such violence and disregard for both human life and bodily integrity take root in our time and culture,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe past few days have been a nightmare. A walk on a mild and sunny afternoon in January should be a happy event, promising the brighter and warmer days of spring and summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat, as we know, was not the case. A depraved act of violence which deprived a kind, talented, loved and admired young woman of her life has since united the country in grief and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe all know that no  individual should die like Ashling and no family should suffer like Ashling\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRespect is an old-fashioned word but it is an important one. Respect was missing last Wednesday but it has re-emerged here all the stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet us respect each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin are among those in attendance at the funeral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin are also attending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symbols of Ms Murphy\u2019s life were brought to the altar during her funeral, including a fiddle, a Kilcormac\/Killoughey camogie jersey, a family picture, a school book and her photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parish priest Michael Meade told mourners that Ashling\u2019s family has been \u201crobbed of your most precious gift\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA gift that gave only joy and love, fun and laughter to many, many beyond yourselves and bounds of your own home,\u201d Fr Meade added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet us not be afraid to make change a reality in all our lives, change for what only is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTogether we grieve, we pray, we hurt \u2013 this is the heavy price we pay for love \u2013 we gather as a family of faith, to be with, to support by our prayer and our presence, those whose darkness is deep, whose pain is raw and fierce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe issues raised in many ways and by many voices since this horrible act of violence invaded all our lives will, we pray, continue to evolve and bring the change we need so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot to talk about it but to simply give and show respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that Ms Murphy\u2019s love was \u201cfreely given and shared\u201d through music, sport and her vocation as a teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday we can only give thanks for having had small share in the privilege of sharing in this most wonderful and lovely human being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday we share our love, our grief, our faith and our comfort with the Murphy and Leonard families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children outside the church held photographs of Ms Murphy and roses. The message next to Ms Murphy\u2019s image read: \u201cFly high in the sky, Our shining light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Screens have been set up in Killoughey community center and Kilcormac\/Killoughey GAA pitch to cater for large crowds at the funeral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representatives from Ms Murphy\u2019s local Gaelic football club as well as from her old school are in attendance at the parish church of Saint Brigid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schoolchildren provided a guard of honor outside the church prior to the funeral. A number of children also held fiddles and tin whistles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Murphy\u2019s sister paid tribute to her on social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amy Murphy described Ashling as the \u201clight of our lives and the heart of our family\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Murphy\u2019s parents Raymond and Kathleen, and siblings Amy and Cathal and her boyfriend Ryan are among the chief mourners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schools across Ireland observed a minute of silence in her memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vigils have been held across Ireland and the world to remember Ms Murphy and to call for a change in tackling gender-based violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes as Irish police investigating the death of Ms Murphy renewed an appeal for information, saying \u201csignificant progress\u201d has been made in the murder probe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police released a description of a man they want to speak to in relation to the teacher\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have asked anyone who saw a man dressed in a black tracksuit top with no hood, black tracksuit bottoms with a large white stripe or white writing on the side and black runners to come forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officers have asked members of the public whether they saw this man walking in the Tullamore area, or if they gave the man a lift last Wednesday evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The public has also been asked if they noticed the man loitering at any location or \u201cinvolved in any activity which drew your attention\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garda\u00ed said that \u201csignificant progress\u201d is being made but would not confirm any specific details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It comes as they identified a new person of interest, who is believed to be receiving treatment in hospital in the Dublin region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As their investigation continues, garda\u00ed believe the development of DNA profiles will form an integral part in the search for Ms Murphy\u2019s killer.<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>