Young teacher killed whilst out running

The Black Oil

Like many, I've found the news about Ashling Murphy absolutely sickening. Although I'm not in education myself, many of my family are. https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0113/1273394-tullamore-murder-investigation/

Perhaps someone will set up Ashling's Run in the future. RIP.

ReeReeG

I just can't get my head around it. Feel physically sick thinking about how she must have been feeling in those final moments. RIP.

diego_b

It's just a horrific story, the poor girl. Just sickening to the core that people simply cannot leave other people alone, out for a run after work...lovely way to start your evening off clearing the head after a busy day and this happens to her. Your heart just goes out to her for her final moments and to her family, friends and all who knew her. May she rest in peace.

Annie get your Run

RIP Ashling Murphy. Like V, I can't help wondering, and fearing what she felt in those final moments. Its very upsetting and extremely sickening but am also livid here listening to other stories of similar circumstances. We are back to the conversation about what we do to keep ourselves safe every.single.day and yet we should NOT be moving the conversation in that direction. God love her poor family, this beautiful young girl out for a run.

For anyone interested the Women's Council of Ireland are holding a vigil in her memory tomorrow https://twitter.com/NWCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor but expect we will see more on this in the days and weeks to come.

TFBubendorfer

It is such a shocking attack, it's beyond horrific. The poor girl, and her poor family!

I have run there. I'm not an expert but I would not have thought it's a dangerous place at all - you can see for miles and you'd think this would provide some sort of safety? Obviously I would have been badly wrong about that one.

Any woman should have the absolute right to be able to go on a run by herself without feeling unsafe, it's such a basic thing, and yet here we are!

BronsonTB

Another thread on this - https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058227597/female-jogger-killed-in-tullamore-mod-note-in-op

Murph_D

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118467726#Comment_118467726

No thanks to that thread, which I'd seen already. Went down the predicable route in no time at all.

Swashbuckler

It's an awful thing to happen. I'm not fully sure why but the fact she was a runner just makes it feel that bit more sickening to be honest. Feels closer to home for some reason. I read the story and similar to TFB it just seemed strange in that it seems like a reasonably safe enough place and at 4pm which is still daylight (i think?), with people around. Either way, terrible to see. May she rest in peace. Awful to think someone doing something as basic as a run after work can be targeted and meet a terrible end.

The Black Oil

Just saw the interview of her principal, how he composed himself I've no idea. An awful time for her pupils too.

Sunny Dayz

Like so many other people, I'm shocked and saddened at this loss of a young life. And it was a beautiful afternoon yesterday for a run. May her gentle soul rest on peace and my thoughts are with her family, friends and young scholars at this difficult time. The stretch of canal is known as Fiona's Way after missing local woman Fiona Pender. I'm open to correction but does that form part of the new parkrun route, I haven't done it yet?

It's hard to get your head around it really. She did everything "right" as a woman - it was daylight, the area wasn't too secluded. As a woman who quite often runs on her own, it's left an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Cleanman

RIP and condolences to her family and friends.

It's sickening that a young woman would start her evening in the best possible way by going for a run in a reportedly bright and 'safe' place and we end up with a story like this. There are some really sick people in the world.

ReeReeG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118468622#Comment_118468622

Yes, that's where the parkrun route is. I ran it in November, was plenty of (friendly) pedestrian traffic on it even without parkrun that morning.

I've run far more remote stretches of the same canal alone before. It'll be a long time before I do that again.

FinnC

Can’t stop thinking about this. It’s horrendous. RIP

BeerWolf

Am I hearing this right that she was attacked in broad daylight with onlookers not intervening to help her???

Spanish Eyes

Unfortunately women are just not safe from male violence. I am not trying to stir things up or anything, but realistically they have to tailor their movements for their own safety in the face of potential attacks from men and that is what this unfortunate girl did, broad daylight etc. but she was still murdered. That is no way to have to live a life at all.

Seems to me that men are killed during altercations or gangland attacks, women are killed by domestic violence and random attacks just because they are women mostly.

My deepest condolences to the girl's family, her professional colleagues, pupils and those who knew her. RIP.

shotgunmcos

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118468882#Comment_118468882

Apparently 2 other women ran to help/distract (not confirmed) which caused the attacker to flee. I can barely stop thinking about this since I heard last night. Someone so young doing something so healthy and to be taken away from this world by the most evil, cowardly act, sickens me to my core as a runner and a human being. I hope she continues running in the other life and my heart goes out to her family and her students.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118468882#Comment_118468882

It's not clear yet. Some reports said two females witnessed the assault and ran to house nearby to call Gardaí as they had no phone.

So tragic, only at the beginning of her life. Madness. Absolutely horrible.

Sunny Dayz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118468756#Comment_118468756

thanks. I've ran along the canal out Mullingar direction a bit in the last 2 years on my own and it's a lovely peaceful enjoyable run by the canal.

JimmyVik

Two women witnessed it from the other side of the canal and started shouting at the guy who then ran off. They called the gardai and gave a description, who then caught him. The girl was alive when they got there but died after a short time.

Annie get your Run

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118469014#Comment_118469014

I can't imagine how they must have felt/are feeling too. I understand one women came on the scene first (on the opposite side as you said) and the other arrived shortly afterwards. Fair play to them for not panicking, being able to give such a detailed description and then getting across to be with Ashling before she died (as I understand it). I also can't stop thinking about it, I just can't believe this happened in broad daylight.

NSAman

In a word, disgusted.

the poor family, friends, and entire local community, will deal with this for a long long time.

what the hell has happened to a country which was safe where you never worried about this type of violence.

a beautiful girl taken so young for no reason.

my heart goes out to all who knew her, her pupils and family.

rest in peace…

Be right back

Awful, awful story. May she rest in peace. Dreadful.

JP Liz V1

RIP

TERRIBLE story

Spanish Eyes

Males do not have to worry about where they run or what time do they? There are female runners out there who have to plot and plan to try and be safe, no earphones, phone fully charged, clear view, around civilisation where help might be more available. Doubt those issues would cross a man's mind in deciding where and when to go for a run. Sad state of affairs and not just in this tragic case either.

I know that is broadening out the debate, but the women in my life are very very cautious, and not just in relation to going for a walk or run either.

Swashbuckler

For once could people not chase around this place looking to spark up arguments and debate.

Can this thread not just be a place for the running community on Boards to pay our respects ? If you want to debate all this there's a thread linked above that seems far more suited to such debate.

john123470

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118469185#Comment_118469185

And so they should be. That is just common sense. We all take precautions .. women And men .. there are nutjobs out there. Hello !

What you have failed to say is that the vast majority on Men are Not like this .. and pose no danger whatever to women

There lies the rub ..

Or are you implying that All men are a physical threat to women ?

Spanish Eyes

The other thread was closed down. I will leave it to the runners so.

Murph_D

This one should be too. It’s only going in one direction.

TFBubendorfer

<MOD>PLEASE, just for once, everyone show some decency and not let the thread about that poor woman descend into some point scoring debate; not about feminism, not about immigrants, not about whatever else you might want to think of. Leave it out!

If you want to discuss it, there are plenty of other forums and threads to do so. Just let this thread have some dignity. </MOD>

john123470

Bless the Murphy family

Good luck

my god.. poor woman. Same age as my cousin, a teacher also. Very sad to see such a young woman killed for absolutely no reason

MY BAD

Absolutely horrific story. Such a thing to happen to anyone but when it's such a young person it makes it even more tragic. I hope the Murphy family find peace some day. My thoughts and prayers with them.

JimmyVik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118469185#Comment_118469185

Actually I have to worry where I jog and I take precautions by avoiding certain roads and streets and im not ashamed to admit it.

I am 6ft1 and am a Judo black belt. Or at least I was when I still trained :).

But I have been beaten up and hospitalized when I walked down the wrong street and do not wish a repeat of it.

Now I make sure where I go is well lit and that I am not goign to get stuck at a dead end should something happen.

And there are certain places I will not go after dark. Even some places I will not go during the day.

Everyone should put their own safety first. But sometimes no matter what you do you cant do enough.

What needs to be done is the soft touch legal system needs to lock people up for very long periods for any violent crime. Violent people are allowed to be violent by the law. A slap on the wrist teaches them and those around them that its safe from the law to be violent. And thenb the violence escalates until they hit the limit of what they can get away with.

What needs to be done is the soft touch legal system needs to lock people up for very long periods for any violent crime. Violent people are allowed to be violent by the law. A slap on the wrist teaches them and those around them that its safe from the law to be violent. And thenb the violence escalates until they hit the limit of what they can get away with.

110% this.

NiceFella

The anger at the absolute cowardice and callousness of it is something that I find is hard to get past.

God love her family,I really hope the community/ Country get behind them and help them through this very difficult period.

RIP Aishling;

walshb

The killer is still on the loose. Hopefully this menace is apprehended soon

notAMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118469317#Comment_118469317

Decent try, you forget boards, by policy, refuses to moderate misogyny. It's one of the last bastions of open sexism. Threads in PI wondering why a girlfriend stopped talking to a guy after they choked them without consent during sex. Ladies lounge used to be active, all went behind closed doors to private forums due to constant hassle. There was a pretty disgusting thread about female runners, describing how to make out their vulva in leggings. "Ham sandwiches " or similar terminology. Graham dwyer was a poster on boards ffs.

Anything you say to break that bubble and voice your perfectly valid opinion as a female runner, will be met by outraged nOt ALL mENz.

A shame they won't listen, but there you go.

My heart absolutely breaks for this young woman and her family. But I'm neither shocked or surprised that this has happened again.

average_runner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118469185#Comment_118469185

Women definitely feel more at risk but to say men dont is wrong. I've had friends attacked walking home from the pub, i was assaulted twice out running also.

I would always ensure the phone is fully charge and would consider the areas where I run also!!!

Its when a group of scum becomes more than one person, it doesnt matter your sex.

average_runner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118474725#Comment_118474725

Let the Garda do their work, they did a great job on the case in Lucan.

They might have a good idea who it is, just need to get all the evidence together while keeping an eye on the person.

So sorry for the poor family going through this. No parent should lose a child.

rom

I feel that this hits home for a lot of people as all too often there is victim blaming. She was out too late, She was too drunk, She shouldn't have been on her own, Her friends left her etc etc BS.

The thing is that going for a run after work in an area where you would expect people to be running is not something that is easy to make up some BS excuse for victim blaming here.

It was a dreadful thing to happen and not something that happens very often.

I think some of the commentary is about pitting one side against the other men/women etc. is not productive. Rather than divisive slogans it should be unity in that we all what to live/run/walk etc country where we don't have fear of violence. If there is someone to point the finger at it is the judiciary and the ability for people to reoffend for violent crime.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118474725#Comment_118474725

Hopefully the person they have under observation now is the right person this time.

anplaya27

Someone said males dont have to worry about when they go for a run. Thats a big assumption. I certainly do as I'm profoundly deaf. Doesnt matter that I'm male, being unable to hear leaves me extremely vulnerable and even more so especially when it's dark.

walshb

I don’t believe AGS identified anyone yesterday!

or did I miss something?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118475740#Comment_118475740

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118475759#Comment_118475759

Not nearly enough to be identifiable unless you knew them. In which case you would likely have heard anyway.

ruined their life; give me strength.

Eddie B

People on social media are to blame for the spreading of names, photo's etc. The fella that was wrongly accused, got some awful abuse on Facebook etc. Now the second and third suspects names, pictures etc, are doing the rounds.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118475824#Comment_118475824

Where do you think the information on his age, his nationality, his past record came from?

FinnC

Everyone is a detective these days. The closet most of these people have got to solving crime is to watch a crime documentary on Netflix, yet they are experts on what the Guards should and shouldn’t be doing.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118475906#Comment_118475906

You don't have to be a detective to know that they shouldn't have leaked information about his nationality and his past record.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118475773#Comment_118475773

apparently the first suspect's name , nationality and photo were all over social media last night and people had even called to his family home. If he had no involvement this was a major mistake on behalf of the Gardai and local media. It doesn't matter if he had been in trouble before with the Gardai.... its completely irrelevant to this crime. His name and photo should not have been leaked and that's why he was released unequivocally and such a strong statement was made to his lack of involvement. (Not to mention the waste of Garda time that went into this dead end)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118476010#Comment_118476010

The Gardai didn’t leak his picture. Not their fault.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118476017#Comment_118476017

my point was in reply to your earlier comment about how this could ruin his life, ("give me strength"). It could ruin anyone's life to be suspected of murder if you are innocent. That's all. Social media has a lot to answer for.