The Irish legal system is fatally flawed as it frequently allows murderers to walk free from court or to avoid prosecution, a vigil to remember the 130 women who were killed in this country in the past 10 years heard over the weekend.
Speaking at a memorial vigil in Cobh, Co Cork on Saturday evening, Anne Delcassisan, sister of Dundalk woman Irene White who was found stabbed to death on April 6th, 2005, said that she was still waiting for the killer to be brought to justice, two and half years after the mother of three's death.
"To know in my heart that the people responsible for Irene's murder are still walking around - that enrages me. Irene has been dead nearly two and a half years and I am waiting for a file to go to the DPP.
" Even if it does go to the DPP, I am not sure that I have any faith that they are going to do the right thing for me. Because if you notice in any of these cases, justice is not always served.
"For example, with Sophie Toscan Du Plantier - those people have suffered for 10 years. I believe that there is a person out there who people know or are aware has committed this crime. I would love to see justice for her parents before they end their days," Mrs Delcassisan said.
Irene White (43) was stabbed and killed in the kitchen of her home in Dundalk.
Gardaí have established that a man was seen running from the house at around 10.15am that morning, but Mrs White's body was not discovered by her mother until noon.
Although people have been questioned about the murder, no one has yet been charged.
Mrs Delcassisan recently sent a letter to Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan in which she was critical of "luxurious" prison conditions, including the fact that "lifers" are given "DVDs, TVs and even a budgie".
She added that more resources needed to be allocated to vital organisations like Women's Aid and Advic to help prevent future homicides, particularly of vulnerable women.
Saturday's vigil at St Colman's cemetery in Cobh was organised by Peter Keaney, the father of 19-year-old Sheola Keaney, to mark the first anniversary of her death. Ms Keaney is buried in the cemetery.
Sheola's body was discovered under plastic sheeting at O'Brien's Lane in Cobh, behind the Cobh Pirates rugby pitch, on July 16th, 2006.
Sheola had gone missing after attending a house party in the seaside town, three days before her remains were found.
She lived at Glenanaar, in Cobh, with her mother, who raised the alarm after she failed to return home.
A major Garda search found items of Sheola's clothing near Norwood Hill before her body was found in undergrowth in the laneway.
A postmortem examination concluded that she suffered a violent death and was strangled.
Sheola's ex-boyfriend, Thomas Kennedy, from Russell Heights in Cobh, was subsequently given a mandatory life sentence for her murder.
When Mr Keaney was organising the vigil, he decided to make it a memorial for Irish female murder victims and invited representatives of of Advic, Women's Aid Ireland and a Midleton-based suicide support group.
Attendees placed 130 lilies on Sheola's grave in memory of the hundred plus women who have been murdered in Ireland over the past decade.
A bouquet was also put on the grave in member of the male victims of homicide.
Mr Keaney was visibly moved by the large turn-out at the event. He has always maintained that he wants his daughter to be more than a "murder statistic."
He insists that a life sentence for murder in Ireland should be for the person's whole life and not just the mandatory 25-year term.
"I don't want Sheola to remain a murder statistic. I want Sheola to be remembered for all the right reasons and I very much go with that life should be life in Ireland.
"If someone takes someone's life it should be life - not a mandatory life sentence of 25 years," he said.
The ceremony also featured hymns such as Be Not Afraid and The Lord is my Shepherd.
A sole piper concluded the short service as mourners continued to place flowers on Sheola's grave.