Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many colleagues will have seen the harrowing "Prime Time" report on the tragic death of Eden Heaslip, who was a victim of extreme bullying. I acknowledge that Senator Keoghan and, subsequently, Senator McGahon have raised this matter with the Leader and she responded, but I wish to bring it up again.

A real hero of the "Prime Time" report was Fr. Jason Murphy, a confidant and counsellor of Eden. He similarly featured in "Operation Transformation" a few nights later. It more than merits mention here that in recent years priests and religious have suffered collectively for the inexcusable criminality of a tiny minority. Most priests and religious, like Fr. Jason Murphy, work daily to bring comfort, solace and practical assistance to vulnerable people. It is only right that in this House of the national Parliament that such unsung, quiet, daily work would receive acknowledgement, in light of what priests and religious have gone through in recent years, and especially in the light of Fr. Murphy's work, which shone out that night. Raymond, Margaret and the family shone out too. What is extraordinary about the family is that rather than being bitter and cynical - it would be excusable if they were both - they have set about a life of helping to prevent the bullying of others and eliminate bullying in schools. They have said, "Let us be buddies, not bullies". They have a campaign going in that regard, which is admirable. I call on the Leader to support me in the view that our unsung heroes of priests and religious across the country, like Fr. Murphy, who work daily, are saluted here in this Chamber.