Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, met the family of Ashling Murphy who was killed while out for a run in her home town of Tullamore in January.
After the meeting he said he had been “enormously touched” and said the young woman would not be forgotten.
The Prince of Wales spoke of his meeting in his farewell speech at the Brú Ború Cultural Centre in Co Tipperary on Friday on the final day of his visit to Ireland.
“Last year my wife called on the entire community, male and female, to dismantle the lies, words and actions that enable so much violence against women,” he said.
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“In your country and mine in the intervening year we’ve continued to witness appalling attacks. Therefore, with profound sorrow and sympathy, perhaps I may be permitted to pay tribute to Ashling Murphy, whose name will not be forgotten, who was taken from us far too soon and who, I know, was a friend to many here.
“My wife and I were so enormously touched to be able to meet her family who I know are with us here today. And our most special heartfelt thoughts are with them.”
Ashling’s death caused shockwaves and sparked vigils across Ireland and beyond in her memory, as calls were made for a change in attempts to tackle gender-based violence.
The 23-year-old teacher, an accomplished musician, was a popular figure whose death caused widespread shock far beyond her own community around Tullamore and prompted a debate about what might be done to prevent other such incidents.
There has been a good deal of talk in the weeks since about legislative change and the taking of greater responsibility by a single senior member of Government on the issue amid calls for action to back up the words.
A man is in custody and is facing charges in connection with Ms Murphy’s death. – Additional reporting PA
