People of Shankill ‘Take Back the Night’ with a 5km march
MORE THAN 150 people marched from Shankill Dart Station to Killiney last Friday evening, as part of a ‘ Take Back the Night’ march.
This was organised by local woman Emily Lyon (23), in response to a series of sex attacks in the area, at least four since December 2015.
The group included Blathniad Ní Chofaigh of RTE, elected representatives and men, women and young people from the area. They covered a 5km route on their march, which was to highlight the fact that people should be free to walk in their local area without injury.
Take Back the Night is an international initiative intended as a protest against all forms of sexual and domestic violence.
A team of volunteer stewards helped Emily organise and monitor the march. ‘It was a great success in its aim 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. Moreover, this walk stands in solidarity with everyone who has ever been affected by sexual violence,’ said Emily.
Fear and anxiety in the local population had been caused by attacks in the area and people, especially women and girls, had changed their daily routines because they did not feel safe walking at night, she said.
‘ The walk was borne out of frustration at hearing about the different attacks. People felt threatened,’ said Ms Lyon. The attacks include the recent assault of a woman in her 40s near the Bayview estate. The woman fought off her attacker and he ran away. The man who was around six feet tall made his escape up Killiney Hill Road. Shankill Garda Station can be contacted at 01 6665900 or call the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111.