THE 10TH anniversary of the murder of a young German journalist in Co Meath was marked by a ceremony yesterday attended by about 150 people including the deputy German ambassador to Ireland, Peter Zingraf.
Bettina Poeschel (28) was walking from Drogheda to the Newgrange monument when she was attacked and murdered by Michael Murphy from Drogheda. He is serving a life sentence.
It was some three weeks before her body was found. It had been buried deep in hedges and undergrowth, and yesterday the German and Irish communities gathered at that location to mark the 10 years since she disappeared.
Among them were Bridie Wogan and her daughter, Anna Bettina (8). “I never knew Bettina but I said that if I had a girl I would name her after her,” Bridie said.
On the day of her daughter’s christening, Bridie planted a tree in memory of Bettina in her garden and she kept in touch with the Poeschel family. After the ceremony Anna Bettina laid a single red rose in front of a monument erected by the community in the nearby village of Donore.
Mr Zingraf said, “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Bettina Poeschel. They have borne and I am sure are still bearing the heaviest burden caused by her tragic death.”
A letter from Bettina’s sister Cornelia on behalf of the Poeschel family was read to those gathered.
A tree was planted beside the memorial by Mr Zingraf and songs were sung by pupils from the local national school.