CRUEL REMINDER OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT EMPTY HOUSE SITE
THE site where Ashling Murphy and her boyfriend Ryan Casey had planned to build their first home together lies empty, as a cruel reminder of what might have been.
People who knew the young couple said Ashling’s long-time partner has not yet found the strength to build the house where they had planned to share a happy and long life together.
In the weeks leading up to her brutal murder in January of last year, Ryan’s doting grandparents had gifted their grandson and his girlfriend the land, and the couple were excitedly mapping out the rest of their lives.
A friend said: ‘Just before Christmas Ryan’s grandfather Willie gave them a site and he said to them to “build away”.
The site was next to Willie and Breda’s own home.
‘Ashling had done some of her teaching practice at Durrow National School and then a job came up there, and she applied for it in the summer, and started working there full time in September,’ the friend said.
‘They were mapping out their lives together and then Ashling was killed. And for what?
‘They were great together and they were well matched. So many lives have been ruined by this.’
Another friend told how, in the 22 months since his girlfriend’s death, Ryan has been trying to get on with his life but of course, it is not going to be easy for him.
‘The house never materialised, but Ryan is back playing with his local GAA club. He is getting on as best he can,’ they said.
Yesterday along the canalside tow path where Ashling had the misfortune to meet the man who cruelly took her life, men, women, and children took the time to remember the hugely popular 23-year-old teacher.
Few, if any of them, could walk past the memorial erected in her honour without stopping and blessing themselves and then looking at the photo of the smiling young woman whose name is known around the world because she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Behind the picture of Ashling stands a crucifix on which sets of rosary beads were wrapped.
At either side of the cross, flowers and shrubs have been planted by some of the many people who loved her.