About 300 friends and family members of homicide victims, many carrying candles and photographs of the deceased, gathered for an interfaith service of remembrance in Dublin on Saturday.
The service which was organised by Advocates for Victims of Homicide (Advic) was addressed by Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan who said he recognised that for many families their loss also involved their first experience of the criminal justice system, something he acknowledged could intensify a difficult time.
Before he entered St Anne's church in Dawson Street, Mr Lenihan queued with the bereaved to sign the visitor's book and read a specially prepared list of the names of homicide victims.
Joint secretary of Advic Joan Deane told The Irish Times that this was the third such bi-annual service in St Anne's.
Ms Deane hoped the list was a complete register of the names of all those who lost their lives through murder, manslaughter or assault, at least since the group started some six years ago. Those who attended yesterday's service were asked to ensure their loved one was recorded, and to enter the name of the deceased alongside theirs in the visitor's book.
Minister David Frazer from Co Meath, along with Fr David Moriarty of Ballyroan, Dublin, said the gathering was an opportunity to share their sense of loss and remember each victim as an individual.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Lenihan said that while Ireland had "a relatively low rate" of homicide by international standards, "every killing is a killing too many". There were 66 homicides last year.
Mr Lenihan said the Government would not become complacent about killings in the face of gangland crimes but would "redouble efforts" to deal with drugs and the abuse of alcohol, which were the cause of many of the problems. The strategy was to give gardaí the resources to fight such crime and "to support and encourage communities to unite behind the gardaí" in fighting gangland crime.
