Letters to the Editor: As a woman, I felt unsafe on the streets 30 years ago

Messages and floral tributes left by well-wishers to honour murder victim Sarah Everard at the bandstand on Clapham Common in south London Picture:  DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images

Since the killing of Sarah Everard, women in London have spoken about feeling unsafe and of reclaiming the streets. Thirty years ago, I lived in Tralee. I was walking home one night alone. Two men passed me on the path. Then, one stopped to tie his shoelace and I had to pass them. And when I walked by, I picked up my pace and then I heard them pick up their pace.

I started to run and they started to run after me. I wasn’t far from where I lived: I was at the top of the road and where I lived was at the bottom of the road. I ran like hell. And they were catching up. The street felt like it was the longest in the world. There was nobody around. The street was not predominantly residential; it was abandoned buildings and a car-park type set-up. I got to the gate of my house and made a sharp turn, and lucky I did, because one of the guys grabbed my arm just as I turned and the force of me turning meant that he couldn’t hang on. I just bolted to my door. I lived in a flat at the back of a house, and went inside.