A heartfelt plea not to brand everyone with the one brush

Country Living with Francis Farragher

Like everyone else across this country – and indeed the world as well – I was revolted by the shocking death of 23-year-old Offaly schoolteacher. There are times when life is just so awfully unfair and where being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be a life extinguishing experience.

Sometimes it can be on one of our side roads when a car goes out of control; sometimes on a motorway when a car drives the wrong direction; sometimes sitting on a plane which is destined never to reach its destination; or as in the case of Ashling Murphy, when simply going out for a jog on a busy pathway after work.

Thankfully the alleged perpetrator has been arrested and charged by the Gardaí which is a consolation to all of us although of course it will bring back the young woman back to her family and friends.

As a member of the male fraternity, I was just as shocked as anyone else with her death: a senseless, evil and savage act that just made no sense whatsoever.

The outpouring of grief across communities in towns, villages and cities across the country told its own story of heartbreak and genuine compassion that people felt for this young woman and her family.

Such events in their own small way were consolations to the family of the dead woman: signs that people, families and communities cared about what happened and wanted to pay their respects.

There was though the other side of things too though. I’m not sure who the ‘Far Right’ are but there were messages flying about, concerning so-called foreigners coming into Ireland and they were laced with hate and prejudice too.

I felt too at times, as if every man in Ireland, had to share the guilt for what had happened on that awful day in Tullamore.

One commentator after the next told us that ‘men had to change’ as if we all shared some kind of common agenda that condoned violence against women.

And I thought of all the men like myself, who are fathers of daughters; grandfathers of granddaughters; all of the uncles who live in a state of almost constant adoration of their nieces. Deep down, I felt it just wasn’t right that these people should be lumbered with the guilt of what was one heinous act.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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