Having recently marked the sixth anniversary of her sister Jasmine’s death, Jenna McMonagle says more needs to be done to tackle femicide in Ireland.
Mother-of-two Jasmine McMonagle was strangled with a rope and severely beaten in her home in Killygordon in the early hours of 4 January, 2019.
Richard Burke, originally from Donegal Town, was found not guilty of her murder but guilty of manslaughter on the grounds of ‘diminished responsibility’.
The judge imposed a 15-year sentence, suspending the final year, on condition that he undergo psychiatric assessment and remain under post-release supervision for five years.
Jasmin sister, Jenna, told RTÉ’s Katie Hannon on ‘Upfront: The Podcast’ that her sister’s killing six years ago had a “devastating impact” on their entire family.
While she finds it difficult to talk about, Jenna feels it is important that people speak up for those who cannot.
“I think if people aren’t talking about it then nothing will change. People need to know what’s the reality of this,” Jenna said.
“I know if it was the other way around – if it was me and it was Jasmine that was here – she would be out there talking for me. So, I have to speak for her,” she added.
Jasmine and Jenna McMonagle. Pic: RTE
Jenna says one of her motivations for continuing to speak about her sister’s killing is the hope that by speaking it can drive change.
“There’s so many angles that people need to come at this from. A lot needs to be done for things to change. This is happening on a regular basis,” Jenna said.
Since 1996, 271 women have been killed in Ireland according to Women’s Aid Femicide Watch.
71% of the women killed between 2014 and 2019 were killed by their current or former male partner or husband, according to a Government report on Familicide & Domestic and Family Violence Death Reviews.
You can read the full article, or listen to the podcast, on www.rte.ie
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