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A mourner holds a mass card at the memorial mass for murdered Irish woman Jill Meagher at St Peter's Church, Drogheda. Julien Behal/PA Wire

Jill Meagher's family feel no 'anger or bitterness' towards Adrian Bayley

The 41-year-old was jailed for at least 35 years for the rape and murder of the Irish woman in Melbourne last September.

“THE FAMILY WANTED a heavy sentence and they have got that, and at least we know now one else is in danger,” said Catherine McKeon, aunt of the late Jill Meagher, speaking following the life sentence handed down to Jill’s murderer and rapist Adrian Bayley earlier.

Catherine, speaking to Miriam O’Callaghan on The John Murray Show, said the family felt no sense of “anger or bitterness” as “that just drags you down and brings you to his [Bayley's] place.”

The 41-year-old was jailed for at least 35 years for the rape and murder of the Irish journalist in Melbourne last September. Bayley has a string of previous convictions for sexual and violent offences but had been out of prison on parole at the time of the brutal attack. He will be 76 years old before he becomes eligible for parole again.

Adrian Bayley being taken away in handcuffs by Australian police. (Pic: ABC News)

Meagher’s aunt said Bayley’s sentence “was all part of the closure” that the family now needed.

“It’s something that no one expects to come at our doors, but it has come to our door and we have to do the best we can with it and keep Jill’s memory alive,” she said.

Jill Meagher was reported missing last September when she failed to return from a night out with work colleagues. From the moment Jill’s family heard about her disappearance, Catherine said they knew it was “serious” because it was so out of character for her.

“Gillian would never have let her parents suffer and not tell them where she went,” said Catherine. “She was such a responsible young woman, they knew straight away this was serious”.

Her body was found six days later in a shallow grave about 55kms from where she was last seen alive.

Michael McKeon, Jill’s uncle, told Newstalk Breakfast that the family now need time and space to grieve Jill.

“Most people don’t grieve when someone dies when’s it’s in the public. Now the sentence has been handed down her parents will be able to grieve,” he said.

Related: Jill Meagher’s rapist and killer jailed for at least 35 years>
More: Adrian Bayley was on parole when he raped and killed Jill Meagher>

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18 Comments
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    Mute Sgt Pepper
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:06 PM

    Sorry lad. What is this obsession, Americanised obsession at that, with having a bloody audience when proposing? It’s so bloody corny. A proposal between the man and woman in private, or in front of friends and family is fine IMO. But needing to have a load of indiscriminate strangers, or on TV or radio, is just sad and needy.

    683
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    Mute paul o wank xxx
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:30 PM

    …. Or a man and a man, or woman and woman!

    97
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    Mute Eddie Nugent
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    Oct 5th 2015, 1:45 PM

    Sgt Pepper is talking about real Marriage

    7
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    Mute selfsustainable
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:20 PM

    everything is a performance these days! look at weddings lately! it’s all about who can make the best entrance so they can post it on tinternet!sad!

    581
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    Mute Una Lally
    Favourite Una Lally
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:34 PM

    Seriously though any man who goes to these lengths is probably getting cucked behind his back by his partner.

    134
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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Oct 5th 2015, 1:57 AM

    Lovely Una, what a romantic you are

    45
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    Mute stephen
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    Oct 5th 2015, 8:26 AM

    Jesus Una, not sure if I love or hate you.

    15
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    Mute Anton Friendo
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    Oct 5th 2015, 10:42 AM

    That’s just scary

    3
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    Mute Eddie Nugent
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    Oct 5th 2015, 1:44 PM

    so true, shallow people

    4
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    Mute Gráinne Rafferty
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:18 PM

    Cringe of that…

    511
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    Mute D H
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:30 PM

    And thsts what he came up with after 10 years??

    277
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    Mute WJH
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:14 PM

    Spanner

    312
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    Mute Leonie Gilsenan
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:14 PM

    My worst nightmare.

    297
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    Mute Stephen Harding
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:08 PM

    Cop on fella

    287
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    Mute conor o brien
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:24 PM

    I’m surprised no body snatched the ring off him on grafton Street!

    199
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    Mute SMcB
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:30 PM

    Romantic …. Well I laughed hard at that suggestion…

    162
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    Mute whynotme
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:36 PM

    Now a tax on that sh!t I can agree with

    158
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    Mute Richard III
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:28 PM

    gobshyte

    156
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:16 PM

    I’ll give him credit , it took some guts but I would’ve preferred something a bit more private and intimate .why does everything have to be the bigger , the better ?

    148
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    Mute Marc Power
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:19 PM

    Some may find it corny or embarrassing but at least it’s a story with a happy content unlike most of the so called news about how big Kim kardasians but t is And isis atrocities. Good luck to them

    134
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    Mute You're What?
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:22 PM

    You sad, jaded, overly opinionated w@#Kers. The guy wanted to do something special for the woman he’s spent ten years and raised a little girl with and all you can do is bitterly attack. How pathetically sad all your lives must be that you need to try to drag someone down like this.

    126
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    Mute Al Ca
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    Oct 4th 2015, 10:53 PM

    What’s wrong with a candle lit dinner and roses?………ten years and a kid!….wedding day planned for 2044.

    53
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    Mute Bridget O'Hanlon
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    Oct 5th 2015, 2:00 AM

    You’re what, you’re absolutely right. I think the journal comment section should be re named ‘Vent your sad ass spleen here’

    13
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    Mute TommyJung
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:17 PM

    Pass the sick bag.

    123
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    Mute jack frost
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:09 PM

    It’s romantic and different Fair play to him.

    115
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    Mute Sgt Pepper
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:15 PM

    It’s not romantic. It’s ego tripping nonsense. Not a hint of romance in it.

    326
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    Mute Frank Greene
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:19 PM

    Wedding Bell end.

    106
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    Mute Babadook
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:33 PM

    I’m sorry lad but you can not dance and I think that is a big part of your plan. Very embarrassed for you.

    97
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    Mute Rob Cahill
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:42 PM

    best part of that was the lad in the electric wheelchair and high viz bursting through the crowd at the end!!

    96
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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Oct 4th 2015, 8:56 PM

    Flash mobs? Really? I thought they went out with the ice bucket challenge.

    87
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    Mute Maz M
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:29 PM

    aaaaaw…don’t be mean now lads ! that guy wanted to show his girl that he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Just because he did it very publicly doesn’t make it any less meaningful .

    81
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    Mute Al Ca
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    Oct 4th 2015, 10:54 PM

    Do you not think it puts the other person under peer pressure?

    33
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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Oct 4th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Personally I’d have called his cards way before this….ten years and a kid, Jaysus would never wait that long for solid commitment.

    78
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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:36 PM

    Best of luck to them.

    75
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    Mute stephen
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:45 PM

    ahhh what a spaz

    65
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    Mute dannyboy
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:52 PM

    brilliant, well done and the very best of luck

    50
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    Mute Lis_Walsh
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    Oct 4th 2015, 11:13 PM

    Morto for them. It’s about as romantic as a saw movie.

    42
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    Mute dannyboy
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    Oct 4th 2015, 6:52 PM

    brilliant,..well done and the very best of luck..

    37
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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Oct 4th 2015, 9:28 PM

    Hope he had a permit.

    27
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    Mute Gash
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    Oct 4th 2015, 8:38 PM

    Jaysus more bad news…..

    27
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    Mute Maurice Quille
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    Oct 5th 2015, 12:05 AM

    2 cans of Fanta a quick ride and and propose in the top floor toilets in the green shopping centre would have been more romantic.

    20
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    Mute Tim Hayes
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    Oct 4th 2015, 11:22 PM

    Good on you Bob, very well done. Don’t mind the ass holes there are allways those miserable gits who just can’t see it for what it is, a romantic proposal. Or maybe they are jealous, who cares. Much happiness to the three of you

    19
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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Oct 4th 2015, 11:38 PM

    Who’d be jealous of a tool?

    28
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    Mute Tim Hayes
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    Oct 5th 2015, 1:18 AM

    Why all the begrudgery. We seem to be a nation of knock everything, and looking at the comments there are some angry people out there

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Oct 5th 2015, 3:47 AM

    Begrudgery is being negative about other’s success. This isn’t begrudgery, or anger for that matter. The guy is a tool and people are calling him out for it. His deciding to make a big public gesture (obviously looking for attention) just to propose to his girlfriend bears this out. What’s wrong with a nice quiet romantic meal? Is he auditioning for some reality show or something? No. He’s just a tool.

    25
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    Mute paddy kiely
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    Oct 5th 2015, 6:14 AM

    Lmao

    8
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    Mute Tom Galvin
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    Oct 4th 2015, 7:52 PM

    Autobiograpy, “Memoirs and Reflections – My Rags To Grafton Strreet Journey’ – SOON ON YOUR LOCAL BUKESHELVES.

    16
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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Oct 4th 2015, 8:46 PM

    How original.

    16
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    Mute Colm Kelly
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    Oct 5th 2015, 3:37 AM

    OK you already have a kid together just chill out and get married

    12
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    Mute John Fogarty
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    Oct 5th 2015, 2:56 AM

    omg I am so happy for him and his family and all his relations and friends they are beautiful people I hope they have a wonderful life…..

    6
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    Mute Anton Friendo
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    Oct 5th 2015, 10:44 AM

    “This is a pretty shyt flash mob. It’s in my living room, only my family showed up, and they’re just telling me to stop drinking”

    3
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