The parents of Jastine Valdez have opened up about their daily struggle after their daughter was murdered.
The 24-year-old was abducted in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, and murdered shortly afterwards in 2018.
The young business administration graduate was abducted and killed by Mark Hennessy (40) shortly after getting off a bus at about 6.15pm on May 19, 2018.
Her body was found in Rathmichael, Co Dublin two days later, while Hennessy was shot dead by gardai as they moved to arrest him.
Four years on, Jastine's parents Thessie and Danilo, have said they will never move on from the horrific ordeal.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Thessie said hearing about the murder of primary school teacher Ashling Murphy made her think of her daughter straight away.
She said: "When I heard about it, I could not breathe and I felt a really deep pain in my heart. I thought of my daughter right away. I don't know what to say to them because until now we still have not recovered from the pain."
Ashling Murphy was murdered while on a run down by the canal in Tullamore, Co. Offaly last month in broad daylight.
Thessie said: "To be honest, we are still grieving and we think of Jastine all the time. So I cannot see how can we encourage Ashling's parents that life must go on when we ourselves have not and can never move on."
She added: "We hope the support from your loved ones bring you peace during this difficult time.
"We want you to know that although the grief never fully goes away, [it] just takes a different shape. You do learn to cope with it and carry on over time. Some day you will learn to find comfort from the great moments that you were able to have with her before she was taken too soon."
