Grieving sister of murder victim to hold vigil

Anniversary of Irene White's death to commemorate 126 women who died violently in last 10 years

The 126 women who are known to have died violently in the Republic in the past 10 years will be remembered at a vigil on Friday.

The Good Friday vigil is being organised by Anne Delcassian, whose sister Irene White (43) was killed in her Dundalk home two years ago this week. No one has been charged in connection with her death.

The vigil, to be held in Dundalk, is being supported by Women's Aid and AdVic, the charity run by families bereaved by murder or manslaughter.

It will be attended by the parents and aunt of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was murdered at her holiday home near Schull, Co Cork, in December 1996.

Despite an extensive investigation, no one has ever been charged with Ms Toscan du Plantier's murder.

Ms Delcassian has issued a public invitation to the relatives of all 126 women to attend the vigil. She said she organised the event because she was growing increasingly concerned about violence against women and she wanted to highlight the number of unsolved murders.

The vigil will be held outside Ms White's home, Ice House, on Demesne Road, between 12-12.30 pm, the time when her body was found in the kitchen by her elderly mother, Maureen McBride. She had been stabbed a number of times.

Ms White lived alone in the house with her three children after she became estranged from her husband Alan some months before.

Her mother died six months later, on what would have been Irene's 44th birthday.

"My mother was full of life but she lost everything when Irene was killed," Ms Delcassian said.

"She died of a broken heart. I have no doubt about that."

Irene's death was the third family tragedy to befall Mrs McBride as her only son Michael (7) died after being hit by a car and her husband later died of cancer.

On the morning of Ms White's death, a man was seen running from the vicinity of Ice House at about 10.15am.

Last year, two men were arrested and questioned in connection with withholding information on the case but they were released without charge.

Gardaí are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) but it is not clear when this file will be ready.

Crimestoppers, the anonymous freephone service, has offered a reward of €10,000 for information leading to the identification of Ms White's murderer.

Meanwhile, Ice House remains empty, following a legal wrangle over its sale between Mr White and the family of his estranged wife.

Ms Delcassian has called on anyone concerned about violence against women to attend the vigil. The names of the 126 women who died violently over the past decade will be read out at the event and St Brigid's crosses will be given to victims' relatives.

Margaret Martin, director of Women's Aid, said the organisation was supporting the vigil to highlight the number of women who died violently every year.

"This is about Irene but it's also an act of solidarity with every woman who has been murdered," she said.

Ms Delcassian praised the Garda work on the case and said she believed that her sister's killer would be caught.

"There is a punishment which comes to you when you least expect it and it starts with the words 'I am arresting you'," she said.

"I feel there will be charges and the entire truth will be told."

She said her sister was a "beautiful and gentle" person. "She was very vivacious and she had a lovely laugh," she said. "Everyone will remember her for her laugh."

Violent deaths: some of the high-profile cases

Baiba Saulite

Baiba Saulite (28, above) was shot dead as she smoked a cigarette in the hallway of her home in Swords last November. The mother of two was originally from Latvia. Last week, her inquest was adjourned for a year to facilitate the Garda investigation into the murder.

Sr Philomena Lyons

Sr Philomena Lyons (68), originally from Mallow, Co Cork, was murdered by Kealen Herron (then 19) from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in December 2001. She had been waiting outside the Sacred Heart convent, Ballybay, for an early morning bus when she was attacked. Herron received a mandatory life sentence in July 2003.

Siobhán Kearney

Siobhán Kearney (38, above) was strangled in her home in Goatstown, Dublin on February 28th, 2006. Her body was locked in a bedroom at the house she shared with her husband and young son.

A file on the matter was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) late last summer but no one has been charged to date.

Raonaid Murray

Dubliner Raonaid Murray (17, right) was murdered on September 4th, 1999, when she was walking home from a night out. She was within sight of her home in Silchester Park, Glenageary, when she was attacked. Despite repeated appeals from gardaí and her family, her killer has never been found.

Mary "Mamie" Walsh

Mary "Mamie" Walsh (54), a mother of two from Waterford, was murdered in August 2004. Samuel Jennings (61), originally from Scotland, was convicted of her murder last November and received a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The court heard that Ms Walsh, a loan company agent, was killed by Jennings because he wanted to steal the money she was due to lodge in the bank.

Colleen Mulder

Colleen Mulder (41) was found dead in the bedroom of her home in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, in December 2004. The mother of six, originally from Bangor, Co Down, had been strangled by her South African husband Anton Mulder (44). He received a mandatory life sentence last May.

- By Alison Healy