THE PARENTS of murdered Swiss teenager Manuela Riedo have appealed to Irish people to help a foundation set up in her name.
Speaking at the Irish launch of the Manuela Riedo Foundation yesterday, Manuela’s father Hans-Peter said he hoped it would “help those who have no help” in coming to terms with rape or sexual assault.
Manuela (17) was sexually assaulted and strangled just three days after arriving in Galway in October, 2007. Her killer Gerald Barry, who had a string of previous convictions, is serving life for her murder.
The foundation will help the victims of rape and their families and it hopes to provide education and awareness for young people who are most at risk of sexual assault.
Mr Riedo said the foundation would be a success if it helped to save the life of a young person.
“Manuela was a very helpful person and we want this foundation to help other people in turn and help keep the memory of her alive through this foundation,” he said.
Both Hans-Peter and his wife Arlette were scheduled to appear on the Late Late Show yesterday evening.
They travelled to Ireland to raise awareness of the foundation which was established under Swiss law last month.
Mr Riedo said they struggle every day to come to terms with their only child’s murder and to make sense of her death.
Arlette said the couple had made many friends in Ireland since their daughter’s death and their problem was not with the Irish people but with the Irish judicial system because Manuela’s killer had been free despite having multiple serious convictions.
Basle-based publican Brendan McGuinness, who set up the foundation, said it had given the couple something to look forward to, but the Riedos were still struggling and had many bad days.
Mr McGuinness, who is organising a concert in the National Stadium in Berne, on July 25th, confirmed that a major Swiss brewing company, Feldschlösschen, had agreed to provide €150,000 in funding for the concert and the company that runs the stadium had given its services for free.
Bands confirmed for the festival so far are The Chieftains, The Dubliners, The Wolfe Tones, Sharon Shannon, The Kilfenora Céilí Band and Fair Isle Folk.
Among those who attended yesterdays’ launch were John Sheahan and Eamonn Campbell from The Dubliners, John Lynch from the Kilfenora Céilí Band and Brian Kilcawley from Fair Isle Folk.
Mr Sheahan said he hoped the foundation would give some “solace and consolation” to the couple.
The chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Ellen OMalley-Dunlop praised the courage of the Riedos.
Those interested in making a donation to the foundation can contact Permanent TSB at ArtaneSort code: 99-06-16 A/C 15132945.
The website is www.manuela-riedo-foundation.ch.
