ORGANISERS of an online vigil for murdered teacher Ashling Murphy were horrified when a man hijacked the video call with a lewd sex act.
The organisers planned the all women event, filled with poetry, music and speakers, for anyone who couldn't attend an in person vigil for tragic 23-year-old Ashling.
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A vigil for Ashling in Athlone 4
The organisers planned the all women event, filled with poetry, music and speakers, for anyone who couldn't attend an in person vigil Credit: TIM STEWART NEWS LIMITED 4
Candles lit at a vigil for Ashling Murphy Credit: Alamy
Co-organiser of the event and music teacher Síle Ní Dhubhghaill recalled the "horrific" moment a man joined the call, under someone else's name and exposed himself.
She told RTE's Today with Claire Byrne: "We decided to have an online event with all women panellists. We had musicians, poets and speakers.
"At some point during the panel discussion a man used the name of one of the panellists to log on and masturbated on screen with a close up of his genitals.
"And it was horrific."
The man was immediately removed from the call and continued to try re-join but was denied access every time.
She continued: "It was massively upsetting for all of our panelist and organisers and I think anyone who attended as well."
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The man did not say anything while on the call and kept his true identity hidden.
The vigil continued as the group were "determined" to not allow the lewd act to derail it.
Síle added: "It's horrific at any time that a man would do this to a safe space full of women, but the fact that we were grieving, that we were sad and angry and actually speaking at the time about how we needed men to do better when it came to violence against women, and someone thought that this was an acceptable thing to do in this safe space.
Síle said it wasn't until after the vigil had ended that the horror of the event set in.
'HORRIFICALLY TRIGGERING'
She said: "Afterwards when the call ended, was when it really hit us and when we all got really, really upset and were speaking together on our WhatsApp group and just incredulous."
She continued: "I don't think it really hit us until afterwards and you're thinking about how you've tried to organise a vigil in a safe space for people and all of the attendees would have seen this and it could have been horrifically triggering for any woman who had suffered any kind of violence from men in the past.
Gardai have said they are "making enquiries" on the incident.
Prayers were said for Ashling at masses nationwide this weekend as vigils continued at home and abroad.
Huge crowds gathered to light candles and silently pay tribute in Greystones, Birr, Kilkenny, Athlone, Lurgan, Howth, Ballincollig and Sligo.
Support for Ashling’s family was also shown at vigils as far afield as Barcelona, Brussels, Manchester and Dubai.
Anyone with information on for Gardai on the murder of Ashling Murphy can contact gardai on a dedicated phone line 057 9357060 at Tullamore Garda station.
HELPLINES
If you have been affected by any issues raised in this article you can use the below helplines for confidential support.
Samaritans 24 hours a day freephone - 116 123
Women's Aid National Freephone Helpline 24 hours 1800 341 900
National Rape Crisis Helpline 1800 778 888 (operated by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
Aware Freephone - 1800 80 48 48 (available 7 days, 10am-10pm).
Tears and anger at Ashling Murphy vigils in Ireland and worldwide as runners pause in teacher’s memory
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Vigils have taken place across the country Credit: Pacemaker