TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS
MEMORIAL TO WOMEN KILLED
MORE than 160 red hearts have been pinned to railings in Castle Park, each representing a woman killed through male violence.
Abigail Gilkinson spent more than 30 hours cutting out the cardboard hearts during lockdown to raise awareness for the 165 women killed in 2018 by men.
The memorial, put up on Saturday, was in solidarity with women across the country who were talking part in Ride for Murdered Women.
This campaign sees women complete a short cycle ride honouring one victim who has lost their lives through male violence.
The group are slowly but surely working their way through the long list of every woman ever killed due to domestic violence.
“Women are still dying now,” said Abigail, 24.
“I saw in the four weeks of lockdown, 13 women and four children are believed to have been killed by men.
“I started doing more research and I found the Ride for Murdered Women which was started by Jean Hatchet. She was also a victim of domestic violence so it could have been her.
“She has been recording all the names of the murdered women and is honouring them with her cycles.
“These are not isolated incidents. Almost all of the victims knew or were living with their abusers.”
All the money raised from the bike ride will be donated to the NIA project which runs services for women of domestic violence.
To donate, go to the website at https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/jeanhatchetridefor murderedwomen