Family of murdered Jill Meagher to take part in mini marathon

The aunts, cousins, and friends of Jill Meagher are taking part in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon so they can raise funds for the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

The death of the Co Louth woman sent shock- waves around the world and a man is currently before the Australian courts, having admitted to her rape and murder.

Now her family in Ireland has decided to support the work of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, as well as centres around the country, and they say that, if Jill was here, she would be supporting them too.

“If such a crime happened to one of her friends, Jill would be doing this with us,” said her aunt, Catherine McKeon Halpin. “We also want people to feel they can come and join with us on the day.”

Ms McKeon Halpin said rape is a crime women and their families often do not or cannot speak about, and they are doing the mini marathon in memory of Jill, who “was taken from us last September by the despicable act of rape and murder”.

Joining Ms McKeon Halpin will be Jill’s aunts Helen and Liz, her three cousins from Drogheda, Louise, Joy, and Michelle, her sister-in-law Katrina Meagher, and many friends.

“We want to support the work done by the rape crisis centres in Dublin and around the country and we know they help all victims of sexual abuse not just rape victims,” said another aunt, Helen McKeon.

“Until this happens in your family, you give lip service to this horrendous crime and then get on with your life,” said Ms McKeon Halpin. “The utter devastation it brings to your family, relations, and friends is not imaginable until it happens in your community.”

The family is aware that other Irish women have had violent deaths abroad and said. “In Ireland, this has been brought home to us so much with our young women who have suffered abroad in the last year,” said Ms McKeon Halpin.

“At home, we have young girls, young women, and older women attacked and raped nearly every day. Families are torn apart and these woman cannot come forward because they have to try to get their lives back to some semblance of normality.

“This is where we need the Rape Crisis Centre. They are there to support the women and families on the long road ahead.”

* For more, see mycharity. ie/event/jillsminimarathon/