Priest protests at murder of girl BALLYDESMOND PRIEST FR MCCORMACK IN PROTEST MARCH
MANY readers of The Corkman are familiar with Ballydesmond native Fr. Martin McCormack, a Salesian Priest who is working at the Malkearns Mission in Swaziland, Southern Africa. Fr. Martin makes the trip home each Christmas and renews his acquaintance with people from all over Duhallow at the annual ‘Sing for Africa Masses’ in Kiskeam, Ballydesmond, and Boherbue.
Two weeks ago, Fr. Martin was in the news throughout South Africa having organised a protest march in partnership with the Police against Gender based violence following the murder of Nobantu Sukati, a young female member of staff at John Bosco Primary School in Malkearns where he is Manager.
Fr. Martin addressed the 3,000 people who attended the March;
“As a priest I have been at the site of 12 murders of young women in this country. In one such incident I picked up the body parts of a 15 year old girl, something that will never, ever, leave my mind. Gender based violence is too common in Swaziland” he said.
According to the findings of the 2011 National Surveillance System of Violence, 77% of Swazi women were victims of violence. The most frequently reported types of violence included physical violence 32%, sexual abuse 21.4%, and emotional abuse 26%.
“Now each of these people abused or murdered is a Daughter, Sister, Mother or Grandmother” Fr. Martin continued, “they are not statistics, they are people with names and families.
“Ending violence begins with me and you. I wish to offer my support to the Police and Detectives who have to deal with these gruesome crime scenes. Crime, violence, and abuse can only be stopped if we as a whole community support and co-operate with each other.
“As your priest I appeal to you this day to hear this message and do something to stop the violence, to stop the killing, to stop the abuse,” he added.
Fr. Martin has been highly praised throughout his Community in Swaziland for having the courage to publicly address this issue and he has facilitated Leadership training at both High Schools in Malkearns in a further attempt to counteract the huge problem of gender violence in Africa.