Women’s Safety Highlighted

A candle for Ashling #shewasgoingforarun

In light of the horrific tragic killing of the young female runner Ashling Murphy, Cllr Dr Evelyn Parsons is making representations for the running track in Dunlo to have its hours of operation extended from 7am to 9pm and open Sundays and Bank Holidays in the strongest terms.

Having been approached by girls and women in the community who no longer feel safe jogging alone on trails before or after work or school as was their practice. The track is an excellent facility, well used, well lit, passively supervised, and with the possibility of CCTV security if the corporate directorate allows for it. She said meaningful measures need to be taken to combat fear regarding Violence Against Women. In the interests of female safety and that of the community as a whole, she is urging the Council to facilitate this extended hour request.

For the first time, Galway County Council turned the county Orange in response to Parson’s and Soroptimists Ballinasloe request on VAW issues during November. It is a UN Global 16 days of Activism on VAW each year. Tuam clocktower and county buildings were lit up in orange light, and she hopes to build on this project next year.

She passed a motion last month calling for the third Strategy on Domestic, Sexual & Gender Based Violence Services to be expedited before the end of the year and to have an audit on emergency accommodation. This got responses from Ministers McEntee and O’Gorman and had Senator Keogan .