Service for murdered Chinese woman

THE parents of a young Chinese woman who was stabbed to death will join her friends and a seaside community for a memorial service this morning.

Dejiu Wang and Qin Xue Xiu travelled to Ireland on Wednesday from their home in northern China after being informed of the death of their only child Xiang Yi Wang, known as Linda to her many friends in the Co Wicklow town of Bray.

Members of the Special Olympics committee organised the memorial service as a mark of respect to Ms Wang, who acted as an interpreter for the Chinese team based in the town for the tournament.

A candlelight vigil was held last night outside the house she shared with a number of other students in the Woodpark Glen area of Bray, close to the park where her body was found eight days ago.

The body of Ms Wang, a student at Portobello College and an accomplished musician who played with the folk band in the local Catholic church, was cremated yesterday morning. Her ashes will be brought back to China.

Pat Vance, the chair of the town’s Olympics committee, knew the young woman well. They worked closely together for the two months prior to the tournament and over the six days of competition, Ms Wang worked for 12 hours a day.

“She was a beautiful young woman, very pretty and a talented musician. She was outgoing, yet quiet,” said Mr Vance, a Bray councillor. Although her parents are not Catholic, Mr Vance said they were happy that the memorial service was being held in the local Most Holy Redeemer church.

“It was explained to them in our culture this was the way we were able to honour and remember those who have died,” he said.

“This is an occasion for her parents. It seems to carry a lot of importance the feeling that their daughter was doing well and was respected in the community,” he said.

The service will be conducted in English and Chinese. “It will be filmed on video so the parents will have something to take back with them. We feel it’s the least we can do,” said Mr Vance.

Following the service, the parents will collect the ashes from the crematorium and return to China. The Chinese Embassy helped bring the parents, and an uncle, to Ireland.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate the murder. One person, a 22-year-old Chinese male, was arrested in connection with Ms Wang’s death but later released. A file was sent to the DPP.