The best pal of murdered Lisa Thompson told a vigil how the mum-of-two had a “heart of gold” who did anything for her children, who she called her “jewels”.
Heartbroken Alison Doherty said Lisa put everyone before herself and still can’t believe that she was killed in such a horrific manner.
The community in Ballymun, north Dublin came out in solidarity for Lisa, 52, today 10 days on from when her body was found in the nearby estate of Sandyhill Gardens.
Lisa, a former youth worker, was stabbed up to 12 times before her body was found on Tuesday, May 10, but gardai believe she may have been killed the previous weekend.
As the murder investigation continues, Lisa’s son, aged 14, and her 12-year-old daughter along with her former partner were comforted by her friends and neighbours outside the Axis community centre in Ballymun.
Lisa’s best friend Alison, who wrote a poem with another pal in the victim’s memory which was read out at the gathering, wanted to remember Lisa for who she was.
Alison told the Irish Mirror: “Lisa was one of a kind. She had a heart of gold.
“She’d help anyone whether she knew you or not. This is so shocking to think that someone took her life like that. It’s about remembering Lisa today.
“Lisa used to have a saying, ‘Ali, put your big girl pants on’ so that’s what I’m doing for her today and we’ll do her proud on Monday.”
Alison’s partner Mark Fitzpatrick added: “She’d put anyone before herself and her kids were before anything.
“We’re remembering the great life she gave everyone around her, the kids had a great upbringing and everything.”
Alison added: “They were her jewels, that’s what she called them.”
The pair said Lisa will get a send-off “she deserves” for her funeral on Monday.
Before the gathering, dozens of mourners signed a book of condolence.
And then Lisa’s favourite songs The Voyage and Sunny Days, by the Original Rude Boys, were played as the crowd lit candles in her memory.
Friends shed tears as blue balloons were let off into the sky Lisa’s memory. Many wore teeshirts with her photo on the front and Justice For Lisa on the back.
The organiser, Glenda Harrington, says she wanted the focus to be on Lisa rather than on the way she died.
Glenda told the Mirror: “She was a very quiet lady, she minded her own business. She was a great mammy, she just did her own thing.
“It was a huge shock. The reason we did this is we feel like there was a lot of focus on what happened to Lisa and the tragic way that she died.
“And I dont think the focus was on Lisa as a person. And as a community we wanted to rally around Lisa and show her support and not what happened and the gruesome side of it. It’s really about support and compassion and respect.”
Glenda also told how women in the area are in fear after what happened.
She added: “It’s becoming acceptable, ‘a woman got murdered.’
“We [her friends] all train together in a gym and we’re like ‘I’m not walking on my own.’ So there’s that fear - they’re out [Lisa’s killer] there somewhere, and that’s quite worrying.”
Cathleen Carney Boud also helped organise and spoke at the vigil.
She told us: “The not knowing must be heartbreaking for the family and friends.
“We need to stop this violence against women. It happens all too often.
“Lisa was a lovely woman who died in the most horrific circumstances. And we need talking about stamping out violence against women.”
She added: “A few times when I text her to come over to her, she used to say ‘ah I’m out at bingo’ - she liked her bingo.
“She was just an ordinary woman and it just seems like a senseless loss of life and two children left behind.”
Lisa’s wake takes place on Saturday at Michael Doyle Funeral Home, Finglas Village before a removal on Monday morning to the Church of the Holy Spirit, Ballymun for funeral mass at 10am.
The notice reads: “Tragically. Beloved mother of Kyle and Brook, loving daughter of Bernadette and cherished sister of Ashley and Stefan.
“Lisa will be sadly missed and remembered with love by her children and their father Thomas, mother, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours, friends and all who knew and love her.”
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