Public urged to get involved in safe spaces review

Members of the public are strongly encouraged to engage in a wide-ranging review on safety in public spaces for women and girls across Offaly which is currently underway.

The innovative initiative is being undertaken by a subgroup of the Offaly Joint Policing Committee which was set up in the wake of the horrific murder of local primary schoolteacher, Ashling Murphy, while she was jogging along the banks of the Grand Canal at Cappincur in January.

The subgroup, which is chaired by Green Party Cllr, Mark Hackett, is planning to host an ‘Offaly Safe Day’ on Friday, June 24 next to highlight the review and to inform people of the ways in which they can become involved.

As well as examining safety in public places for women and girls, the Subgroup will also look at the safety of all persons who are at risk of gender-based violence.

“We are aware that some groups in society, particularly those marginalised or in a minority, may be more vulnerable to this form of violence and harassment than others, and we want this review to be as inclusive of all voices as possible” said Cllr Hackett.

While the remit of the JPC Subgroup is to conduct a review and public consultation on “the reality and perception of safety” from gender-based violence in public spaces across Offaly, they quickly realised that the scope of the review could be “very broad” according to the Chair.

“We are proposing to narrow actions down to three main areas” said Cllr Hackett. These actions include a walk with stakeholders in the three main towns of Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry; an online survey of perceptions on the risk of gender-based violence within the county, and an invitation to stakeholders and members of the public to make written submissions.

The walkabout in the three main Offaly towns will be led by a Councillor from each Municipal District, and are due to take place this month, while the online public survey of perceptions on the risk of gender-based violence will be led by An Garda Siochána and will run until July.

Offaly County Council will take the lead in organising and co-ordinating the written submissions from members of the public and various stakeholders, and this will also run until July.

“We do not anticipate we can eliminate either the risk or the fear, but we certainly hope to better understand it and to provide recommendations which can inform future decisions on public space management and design” said Cllr Hackett.

The Subgroup of the JPC was set up following a Motion brought to Offaly County Council in February by Cllr Hackett and subsequently referred to the JPC.

At the JPC meeting on February 28, which was attended by Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, Cllr Hackett called for “gender balance” on any committee that would be established, and said he was not prepared to allow his own name to be put forward for any group unless there was “at least” one female representative.

The Subgroup is comprised of two Cllrs, Mark Hackett and Neil Feighery; three members of An Garda Siochána, Inspectors Ollie Baker and Alan Kerin and Sgt. Catherine Burke; two representatives from the Public Participation Network (PPN), Seamus Rourke and Penny Rowe and Jean Ryan, SEO of Tullamore Municipal District.