‘She ran from danger... but in a sickening twist it was the safe place where they lost their lives’ BY LARISSA NOLAN
TRAGEDY OF MOTHER-TO-BE AND
Neighbours pay their respects
On Wednesday – International Women’s Day – I made my way to the Repeal march in Dublin city centre. The sun had come out for the first time this year – spring had finally arrived.
It felt like one of those days of opportunity, new beginnings, hope.
It was a day to put politics aside, whatever side of the abortion debate you were on.
Every woman on March 8 was united in one thing – wanting an equal, fair, and safe world for the sisterhood.
The march was really a celebration of womankind, a championing of women’s rights, and it felt only right to take to the streets in what was
Gardai outside flats in West Dublin Flowers & toys left at complex something of a carnival atmosphere. But even as the hordes made their way to O’connell Bridge in celebratory mood, disturbing news was coming through about an unspeakable tragedy, only 10km away, in a facility for women fleeing domestic violence.
A young family had been wiped out in a fire in the early hours. Beautiful young mother, seven-months pregnant Annemarie O’brien, and her two-year-old daughter Paris.
The toddler’s cousin, three-year-old Holly, also died in the blaze in the apartment complex. Holly’s four-yearold brother Jordan lost his fight for life later that day. Their mother, Biddy, 30, was critical in hospital.
Annemarie had been seeking refuge in the Cluainin Cronin housing unit in West Dublin when the fire broke out.
She had run from danger to this secure place, where she and her daughter felt safe and protected.
In a sickening twist, this very safe place would be where they would lose their lives.
She had her cousin Biddy and her children over to stay in a place where they felt certain they could all enjoy the evening together in peace. Annemarie should have been waking up that fine spring morning feeling the sense of promise that was in the breeze on International Women’s Day. ged just 27, she looked just like so many of the young women who spent that day marching for their rights, with the dream of a society where women are not abused, violated or margainalised.
Her photo shows a dark-haired beauty with made-up green eyes, her eyebrows fashionably accentuated, pouting at the camera in a selfie.
But unlike most of us there, Annemarie knew the reality of abuse.
She had been driven to leave, just weeks before giving birth, to take her
Alittle girl to a place of safety. She had been forced to entrust their care to a domestic violence charity, Sonas, in an act of desperation. She was a member of the Travelling community and knew not just about abuse but about discrimination. In her short life, Annemarie O’brien would have had a string of better reasons than most to march.
This year’s theme was Be Bold For Change. And in her own way, that was what Annemarie was doing.
She had been brave enough to reach out for help, to wipe the slate clean and start from the bottom all over again.
Instead, she will be buried tomorrow with little Paris, Holly and Jordan