O’Reilly trial highlighted victims’ plight

THE multiple victims of every crime were highlighted perfectly by the highly publicised O’Reilly murder trial, victim support campaigners suggested yesterday.

Co-ordinator of the Crime Victims Helpline, Maeve Ryan, suggested the nature of the trial brought home the emotional turmoil experienced by everybody involved.

Ms Ryan said: “Last week’s trial of a horrific crime was an extreme but real example of the number of totally innocent people who are so tragically affected by one crime,” she said. The blanket coverage of last week’s trial offered a snapshot of the experiences of many people who find themselves at the wrong end of criminal activity, she said.