Vigil held in memory of young mother stabbed to death in Limerick

“LIMERICK finds this senseless violence abhorrent and I want to make a commitment to her family that we will do everything we can to ensure that another family will not have to go through this ever again.”

These were the words of Cllr Elisa O'Donovan on Tuesday evening as she joined women, men and children from across Limerick for a vigil in memory of a young Romanian mother who came to Limerick for a better life for her four children back home but was stabbed to death in a “vicious and frenzied attack”.

The one week anniversary of the death of Geila Ibram (pictured), aged 27, was marked with a vigil at 5.30pm this Tuesday afternoon at Steamboat Quay in Limerick city. 

The 27-year-old mother-of-four was found dead at a residence on the Dock Road on Tuesday afternoon, April 4. She had only come to Ireland three weeks earlier.

Gardai in Limerick conducted an extensive and thorough investigation. Officers combed the city looking for a weapon and were seen delving through multiple bins and checking gutters.

A 26-year-old Afghan national, Habib Shamel, was charged with her murder in Belfast on Saturday. The court heard evidence gathered shows a conversation between the defendant and the victim, between 11.20am and 12.40pm on April 4, which was “arranging a sexual exchange”.

A detective sergeant said CCTV footage shows the defendant entering the flat just before 1.30pm, and leaving “approximately one minute 52 seconds later”.

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He said that the victim was stabbed numerous times in the neck, face and abdomen, in what the court heard was a “vicious and frenzied attack”.

The detective said the attack resulted in the defendant injuring his hand. The court heard Mr Shamel made attempts to try to treat his hand, including attending University Hospital Limerick.

The first of two events in Limerick this week to remember Ms Ibram took place this Tuesday afternoon.

Cllr Elisa O’Donovan said she called the vigil so that “we as a community could come together and show our respect for a woman whose life was stolen from her at such a young age”.

“I want for Geila’s family and friends and her children to know we are deeply sorry for their loss, that we as a community are distressed and deeply saddened that your loved one Geila has lost her life in such horrific circumstances,” said the Social Democrat councillor for Limerick City West.

One woman who travelled from County Tipperary told the Limerick Leader: “This is becoming a dangerous country for women, for all women. “

Media in the Eastern European country have reported that Ms Ibram went to Ireland with a Romanian whom she was supposed to marry this year.

The second event in memory of Ms Ibram, organised by Rosa Socialist Feminist Movement, takes place at 5.30pm this Thursday, April 13 on Bedford Row in Limerick city.