Six years after Swiss student Manuela Riedo was murdered in Galway, several hundred balloons were released today in her memory and as a mark of solidarity for victims of sexual assault.
The commemorative event in the city centre was also held to pay tribute to all those who help to "heal, educate and prevent" in various support services , the Manuela Riedo Foundation said.
In bright lunchtime sunshine, up to 80 pupils from school choirs, including the “Jes”, St Mary’s, Presentation, Coláiste Éinde and Taylor’s Hill sang with five singers from St Nicholas’s Choristers - the latter dressed in full choral attire.
The 17-year-old student had only recently arrived in the city to learn English in early October 2007 when she was assaulted and killed. Gerald Barry of Mervue, Galway, is serving three life sentences for her rape and murder.
For the first time since their daughter’s violent death, Ms Riedo’s parents, Arlette and Hans Peter, did not travel to the west of Ireland for her anniversary.
However, they have visited recently, are due in Galway again very soon, and are supporting the work of the charity named after their only child, the foundation has said.
The foundation has raised 120,000 euro to date. The funds have been used to support projects related to sexual assault awareness and prevention, and to help reduce waiting lists for counselling and therapy at the Galway Rape Crisis Centre.
Other organisations which have received foundation support include the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland, Children at Risk in Ireland and the west and midwest sexual assault treatment service for children and adolescents.
It says that over 6,000 teenagers have attended over 200 workshops on sexual assault awareness, run by the Galway Rape Crisis Centre. Before this funding became available, only two workshops were normally held, it says.
