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A 24-year-old Limerick woman, whose prison pen pal was sentenced to death as a teenager for his role in the brutal murder of a married couple, has called on the Irish to support an international campaign to save him from execution.
Former Texas gang member Brandon Bernard, now 40, is scheduled for execution in the US state of Indiana on December 10.
His will be the ninth execution approved directly by President Donald Trump after a 17-year hiatus in federal executions. Seven “federal” prisoners have already been executed since July.
In gruesome irony, Bernard will be executed on International Human Rights Day unless the outgoing president of the United States commutes his execution.
Despite Bernard’s conviction for double murder in 2000, with four other gang members, Aoibhinn O’Sullivan, a 24-year-old woman from Dooradoyle, said her long-distance relationship has convinced her that she is now a “good and good person. surprising”.
The University of Limerick graduate revealed how she has established a “strong connection” with Bernard through the many letters they have exchanged as pen pals.
“It’s hard to take care of someone you’ve never met, but Brandon makes it easy. It is not defined by its past, nor does it ignore it. He’s so self-developed and self-aware that his depth seeps through his lyrics. ”
Aoibhinn said that while he acknowledged, like Bernard, the brutality of the crimes for which he was convicted, it was important that people consider all the facts of the case before rushing to judgment.
“He was just a naive 18-year-old who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He did not act alone. Many of the surviving jurors in Brandon’s case deeply regret his sentence.
“Brandon was one of the youngest people to receive the death penalty. He has been incarcerated ever since. He has not hugged or touched his family in over 20 years. ”
Bernard, whose co-defendant Christopher Vialva was executed earlier this year, was sentenced to death by a Texas court.
Three other co-defendants could not face capital punishment because they were 15 and 16 years old. Vialva’s execution has raised questions in the United States about whether the death penalty is appropriate for adolescent offenders.
Aoibhinn said that while he may not even understand the grief of the surviving family members of the murdered couple, it is important to realize that commuting Bernard’s sentence means he would face life in prison without parole.
Murder is murder. I don’t believe in the death penalty. It is inhuman and it serves no one. ”
When asked what message he had for Brandon, he said: “I texted him on a server recently and he said he was staying strong and optimistic. I just want him to keep that strength. ”
And his message to Donald Trump, who has Bernard’s fate in his hands? Please think deeply about the consequences of your actions. It cannot be forgotten that a human life is at stake. Please remember that he is a human being and no human being deserves to be put to death. ”
The Limerick administration worker concluded with an appeal to the Irish public to support the campaign to save Bernard.
“It’s hard to explain how amazing Brandon is. His words have great weight and strength. The connection and understanding that can be gained from his words is amazing. For someone who has spent most of his life locked in a small metal room, Brandon has the most positive outlook on life. ”
The Irish can support the campaign by sending an electronic letter to Donald Trump at helpsavebrandon.com. More than 6,000 people have already sent a letter.
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