Outpouring of grief as city marches for Jill

United in grief and inspired by the need to demand greater protection, a shaken Australian community took to the streets to condemn the violent death of Jill Meagher.

In the kind of outpouring usually reserved for the passing of a head of state or a figure of global fame, tens of thousands turned out to pay their respects to the young Co Louth woman.

Many sobbed openly when pausing outside the door of the Duchess Boutique on Sydney Rd in Brunswick, Melbourne, where CCTV captured the fateful moment that Ms Meagher, 29, appeared to meet her attacker.

Now fronted by a mountain of floral tributes and an overhanging tricolour, the shop is near the Etiquette Bar where Jill had enjoyed a few drinks on a work night out, before her death on Sep 22.

Placards held aloft by those taking part in the march read “Choosing Peace, Hope, Non-Violence and Solidarity With All Women” and “I won’t close with fear. I’ll open up with love”.

“I think it’s touched us all because we all feel that it could have been any one of us,” said Virginia Edwards from the Melbourne suburb of Spotswood.

Yesterday afternoon, Ms Meagher’s mother, Edith McKeon, who arrived in Melbourne from Perth, stood outside the Duchess Boutique.

Accompanied by family members, she took time to read the messages attached to the hundreds of bouquets of flowers that have become a shrine to the Irishwoman whose body was found in a shallow grave last week about 30km from where she was last seen.

“I would like to thank the huge support here in Melbourne; it’s just been unbelievable. Just thank you, simply thank you,” said Ms McKeon.

Adrian Ernest Bayley, 41, has been charged with Ms Meagher’s rape and murder. He is due in court again in January. He is expected to be moved to a high-security wing of his prison over fears for his safety.

Ms Meagher was last seen leaving a bar in the early hours of Saturday, Sep 22, after socialising with colleagues from ABC radio. She failed to complete the short walk to her home, less than a mile away.

Bayley, from the Coburg suburb of the city, was arrested after the last image of Ms Meagher before she disappeared was captured on Duchess Boutique’s CCTV footage, showing her talking to a man wearing a blue hoodie.