‘Take back the night’ march to be held in Shankill

RESIDENTS of Shankill and Killiney plan to march between their Dart stations on Friday evening to ‘ Take Back the Night’.

Local woman Emily Lyons (23) has organised the walk in response to a number of assaults which occurred in the area over the past year.

‘It is unacceptable that people have been attacked and that, as a further result of these attacks, people are altering their daily routines,’ said Emily.

She said that people are avoiding exercising, walking to the shops at night, walking home from work or school, and they are generally fearing for their safety in the community.

‘ The walk intends to bring the community together to stand in solidarity with the people who have been affected by these attacks and to reclaim a space in which community members should feel safe,’ said Emily.

‘Moreover, this walk stands in solidarity with everyone who has ever been affected by sexual violence, as more often than not, individuals are sexually assaulted by someone known to them, in a context in which they feel safe.’

The gardaí have been notified about the event.

The march follows an attack on a woman in her 40s at the Bayview estate on the evening of Friday, January 30. She fought off her attacker and suffered minor injuries.

At the end of December 2015 and during January and February 2016, there were four attacks in the area.

It is understood that in this instance, a man who was around six feet tall made his escape up Killiney Hill Road.

Shankill Garda Station can be contacted on (01) 6665900 or call the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.