Mattie McGrath urges tougher justice after Aisling Murphy murder
Mattie McGrath paid tribute to Aisling Murphy and recounted her life as a talented musician and teacher, calling her death a national shock. He urged tougher measures in the justice system, including tagging, tighter bail practices, limits on repeat free legal aid and a "two or three strikes" approach for repeat offenders while maintaining the presumption of innocence.
Tribute to Aisling Murphy
Aisling Murphy was remembered for her musical talent and community work. McGrath noted her roles as a teacher, a musician who toured with Ciotis and performed with the National Folk Orchestra, and her involvement with local music groups; he extended condolences to her parents Ray and Kathleen, her brother Cahill, her sister Amy, and her boyfriend Ryan Casey.
Impact and public shock
Her death while out running on a public path was described as brutally cruel and has had a profound impact across the country, particularly on women. McGrath said the killing must be a watershed moment for violence against women and highlighted the fear many feel about walking or running alone.
Concerns about the justice system
McGrath criticised what he called a "light touch" justice system that he believes leaves communities unsafe. He raised concerns about repeat offenders being repeatedly bailed, receiving free legal aid multiple times, and the reluctance to use tagging as an enforcement tool.
Calls for specific reforms
He urged the minister to break resistance within the justice system and backed measures such as electronic tagging and stricter consequences for persistent offenders, advocating a "two or three strikes and you're out" stance while affirming the need to protect the presumption of innocence.
Appeal to the minister and closing remarks
McGrath concluded by calling for urgent action from the minister and the wider system to stamp out violence and make public spaces safe again, thanking colleagues during his remarks and reflecting on the cultural loss represented by Murphy's death.
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I want to begin, and before I begin I want to pay tribute to respect to the late Aisling Murphy, whose most precious life was stolen from her so cruelly and so brutally almost one week ago. Many of us here have spent the week learning about who Aisling Murphy was. She was a young woman, she was a teacher, she was a musician, she was a daughter, a sister, a friend to many and lead a mentor to many. A young woman with her whole life ahead of her. Aisling was known all over the country for her musical talent. She toured Ireland and the UK with Ciotis and as a member of the prestigious National Folk Orchestra. Indeed she often crossed paths with my own daughters through their musical involvement in Fláinna, Cíol and her love for the Irish music and dance. And she was known, they have known each other through the years. Indeed I want to pay tribute also to the whole Ciotis family and the Aisling Murphy, who were heartbroken at the news as well, they loved her. My daughters have spoken this week of her talent, her passion and her love for Irish traditional music and its importance that we have to pay tribute to her for the talented musician she was. It is also important that we remember Aisling as a brilliant musician, not only as a victim of such an unthinkable murder, but on my own behalf and on behalf of my rural independent colleagues, our deepest condolences go out to her parents, Ray and Kathleen, her brother Cahill and her sister and best friend Amy and her boyfriend Ryan Casey. Our hats break for her family, her many, many friends, the community she lives in Ireland, Ireland's pride and Ciotis community, Komogi and GAA, the students and teaching staff who worked with her in Doro National School and all who mourn her loss at this time, a beautiful life gone far too soon. As my daughter Molly remarked during the week, there will be tunes in heaven upon Aisling's arrival. Aisling's most brutal end has shocked the nation and has had a profound impact on the entire country, but on women in particular. A beautiful young woman who had her life ended as she went for a run on a public path has left us all with a deep sense of shock, but this must be a watershed moment for violence against women. It is just truly horrific. As I said, women and all citizens are entitled to live in safety, and it is time that we address the light touch justice system that is leading to a society where women are afraid to walk down the street and are afraid to go on for a run and afraid to be alone. Fair too often we have witnessed many cases in the court judicial system who have violent crimes and those of common assault and those who repeat offenders are getting bailed numerous times, getting free legal aid numerous times and also the whole area of tagging. It would be much easier to find these people with numerous criminal convictions if they were tagged. It is a no-brainer, but there is a huge resistance. I hope you, Minister, will break that resistance in what seems to be the justice system. The simplicity of the people who can get free legal aid numerous times. I believe in two or three strikes when you are out. I do go on the premise that innocence is unproven guilty and we must provide that. But where there are dozens and dozens of convictions, where there are dozens and umpteen times getting bail, and where there are dozens of crimes committed on bail, this is shocking. And we must stamp this out of society because there is no place in this country. We must get real here, there are problems, there are issues, and we must stand up and be counted and deal with these issues. They are clearing in front of us. Thank you for this, Mr. Marcos, Anyway. .
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