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Brendan McGilligan, 30 Aug
A vigil was held in Derry’s Guildhall to remember the two women killed
in County Derry in the past week.
Organised by Foyle Women’s Aid and Alliance for Choice Derry, Thursday
evening’s event included a minute’s silence for Montserrat Martorell
(65) who was killed last weekend in the city and for Sophie Watson
(57), who was killed in Magherafelt.
Marie Brown, CEO of Foyle Women’s Aid, read out the 22 names of the
women to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, calling for more
action to be taken in combating the violence to women.
Goretti Horgan of Alliance for Choice, who chaired the vigil, wished to
show a sign of solidarity to the families of the victims.
She said: “We are here too often to remember murdered women.
“More women are killed per capita in Northern Ireland per capita than
any other part of Europe.
“We wanted to have this vigil to remember the two women killed in the
same week in County Derry, Sophie Watson killed in Magherafelt and
Montserrat Martorell, who were murdered in our own city.
“We need to show solidarity with the families of these women and every
woman who is living in fear and may be unable to leave their violent
situation.”
Ciara O’Connor-Pozo read out a poem in Spanish to pay tribute to
Montserrat in her national tongue and spoke after the vigil.
She said: “I felt it was important to have first of all a sign of
respect because Montserrat, she has been a rumour on social media and
around the town the last couple of days, and I think we lose sight of
the fact that these are not just headlines or figures; they are human
beings who have tragically been taken from us.
“So I felt it was important to incorporate a bit of Spanish into this
to acknowledge her culture and background into the vigil.
“Montserrat and Sophie are two individuals; people are grieving for
them, so I wanted to add a personal touch.
“I am sad and angry that we have had to hold this vigil, the fact that
violence against women is so endemic and that it continues. I think it
is really important that Derry For Choice organise these vigils as a
sign of respect but also to keep talking about the men who don’t
respect women’s bodily autonomy, the fact we are human beings, and
fight against the dehumanisation of women to the point where men murder
women.”
Dozens of people gathered in Guildhall Square to pay their respect,
including Caroline McGuinness-Brooks, who runs Repair and Share Foyle.
She said: “Women and men have to stand together; we have to show up in
support against acts of violence, and we have to be teaching our
children to be kind and be good, to look after one another.
“Montserrat was from out of town, and I’m here because I want her
family and friends in Spain to see that Derry people are mourning her,
and we support them in their time of need.”