Amazing act of generosity of grieiving Murphy family lauded

A councillor has praised an amazing act of generosity by the family of murdered primary schoolteacher, Ashling Murphy, which resulted in 15 families across the midlands receiving food donations over the weekend.

Cllr Ken Smollen told of how Ashling’s aunt Geraldine contacted him to let him know that the Murphy family wished to donate food to the Ken Smollen Food Appeal to ensure that it would not go to waste.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent on Monday, Cllr Smollen said he was “completely overwhelmed” at the generosity and selflessness displayed by the Murphy family at a time of “unspeakable grief and suffering.”

Cllr Smollen said the generosity of Ashling's parents, Ray and Kathleen, and their family "speaks volumes about the calibre of people that they really are" that they could think of others "at such a devastating and really heartbreaking time for all of them."

He admitted that he was not looking forward to visiting the family home of the Murphys at Cully, Blueball under such tragic circumstances, but said he received one of the “kindest and warmest welcomes” from members of the extended Murphy family and friends and neighbours who helped to load “a huge amount of food” into his delivery van.

The food which was donated to the Ken Smollen Food Appeal had been brought to the Murphy home by family, friends and neighbours as is customary in many areas of the country when a family experiences the loss of a loved one, Cllr Smollen explained in a Facebook post, where he extended his deepest thanks to the grieving family for their extremely generous gesture.

“Ashling’s brokenhearted Dad, Ray, came out to the van to meet me and said the family wanted to ensure that the huge amount of food they had went to people and families who need it” said Cllr Smollen, who added that the food was distributed over the weekend to 15 families in need across Offaly, Westmeath and Laois.

"it is impossible to imagine what the Murphys are going through, but for them to think of donating food to other people who need it after the murder of their beautiful and talented daughter....it really is an amazing act of generosity" said Cllr Smollen.