Zara Aleena murder: council responds to sentencing of Jordan McSweeney
Published: 14 December 2022
Following today’s sentencing of Jordan McSweeney at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Zara Aleena in Ilford on 26th June 2022, the Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, has issued the following statement:
"Our thoughts are with Zara Aleena’s family as they mourn the loss of their beloved Zara. Nothing that has happened today could have lessened their pain or brought back their child, but it is my sincere hope that they are now able to grieve, assured that the person responsible for their devastation cannot cause any more harm.
"The despicable murder of our neighbour, Zara, has shaken our community. Redbridge is a place parents move to give their children a better life, a good education and the building blocks towards a bright future. Zara had that bright future ahead of her before it was stolen by the depraved actions of a twisted individual.
"As a father of four, I know I sleep less easily, and I am not alone. The unthinkable has happened in our borough to our neighbour, and our community is reeling. Zara was just walking home; she should have been free to live her life as she pleased, and instead, her life was taken from her. It is every parent’s worst nightmare.
"We’re pleased the courts have today recognised the severity of this case, and that has been reflected in the life sentence imposed on the defendant. Zara Aleena's murderer had 28 prior convictions for 69 offences before his latest terrible crime; he should never have been walking the streets of Ilford that night and should never be given that freedom again.
"The violent attack that ended Zara’s life was a rare and isolated incident, but unfortunately, the deep-rooted misogyny that led the individual responsible to commit such a heinous crime is not rare or isolated. Women and girls must feel safe on our streets, beginning with a zero-tolerance approach to harassment, sexism and abuse.
"In Redbridge, we are confronting these behaviours and empowering local communities to reclaim our streets. We are the first local Council in the country to extend our Public Space Protection Order to include catcalling and street harassment, and we are supporting undercover Police operations to catch perpetrators of this abuse.
"Today we remember and grieve for Zara and for the life she would have led."
