Jill Saward's death announced

[Kit30]

Just wanted to highlight and acknowledge her incredible bravery and selflessness on behalf of rape victims. She accomplished so much.

Very sad news. I remember the case well and she showed enormous courage in waiving her right to anonymity and helped others through this and her tireless campaigning. RIP Jill.

So sad to hear this. A woman of such courage, who was so brave and generous of spirit deserved to have a long and happy life with her family.

RIP Jill.

Some rewriting of history going on here

Why would anyone blame her father? He was a vicar! If he hadn't forgiven his assailants, people would have strongly condemned him. Don't forget that he was himself seriously assaulted, as was her boyfriend - both had their skulls fractured with a cricket bat.

What is being conveniently forgotten here is that Jill herself forgave the attackers - that's why the judge made the remark he did. He thought - and subsequently acknowledged he was wrong - that Jill's forgiveness and Christian faith made her trauma easier than if she had bitterness and hatred for her attackers. What he failed to understand was that forgiveness is one thing and forgetting is something entirely different.

Tanith - very well expressed. I agree with you. I heard Jill speak once and she left a lasting impression on me. She did amazing work, out of dreadful circumstances.

Yes Tanith, that is how I remember it too.

Huge respect. RIP.

Yes, agree with Tanith's summing up. I saw a report on the news last night and it made me tear up.

I do remember seeing an interview with her father in his hospital bed at the time, and he referred to her as a jewel in his crown. My father was horrified that he hadn't mentioned her by name and I pointed out that she probably shouldn't be named because of the anonymity she had.

Thanks for writing that, Tanith. I nearly said something yesterday as I was upset that people had used this post to slander her dad.

They were family friends when I was little so it really has hit me.

Rest in peace jill.

I remember the case very well too. I'm pretty sure (and prepared to be corrected if I'm wrong) that Jill herself was upset at her father saying he forgave the perpetrators. Of course he was free to forgive them for what they did to him, but not what they did to her.

I was utterly disgusted at the judge's remarks and the lighter sentences given to the rapists. Even if her trauma hadn't been "so great" (and I'm sure it was), the rapists themselves, carrying out a vicious attack, couldn't possibly have known that in advance.

The tabloid reporting at the time was disgusting too. The Sun ran a photo where little effort was made to disguise Jill's identity, and it was pretty obvious from the news stories who the victim was.

I feel immensely sad that she's gone. She was extremely brave and did so much to campaign for better treatment of rape victims.

This is very sad news.

The BBC yesterday replaced an interview she gave to Jennifer Murray on Woman's Hour when her book came out. She spoke very eloquently about how, on the Sunday after the attack, well meaning people advised her not to go to Church (presumably because it was very public and the congregation would have been aware of what had happened). She felt very strongly that she should not be prevented from being near to God, so went. When it came to saying The Lords Prayer, the meaning if the line "forgive us our sins and we forgive those who sin against us" became clear to her, and she realised that she couldn't expect God to forgive any wrong doing she might have committed if she couldn't forgive her attackers, and at that point forgave them. Truly amazing, and a better person than I am.

Forgiving them did NOT mean she wasn't traumatised by the attack, something which the judge failed to understand.

I suspect she and her father discussed his public forgiveness statement before he made it - at least I hope so.

So very sad that she has lost her life at such a young age. An incredibly brave and dignified woman. I cannot imagine how she found the strength to forgive those men. I understand what she said about how holding onto bitterness and anger would have hurt her more, but if ever bitterness and anger were justified, its in a case like hers.

The judges comments were so sickening. And I hope that people are right about her father - the thought that he would have taken it upon himself to 'forgive' those men for what they did to her is horrendous

I was really shocked to hear about Jill's death. She was a friend of, and gave an incredible amount of support to, a friend of mine, who is a rape survivor. Jill has done so much for rape victims all over the country and will be truly missed. Irreplaceable.

I recall the case. Very sad that she has passed away, so young. I read the sentences, the only one who did not rape her got a longer sentence than the actual rapists. 14 years for burglary. Unbelievable.

I am so sorry that Jill has passed away at such a young age. She was such a remarkable brave and dignified lady, who devoted so much of her life to helping others and standing up for victims of sex crimes.

It is people like Jill who should receive honours, instead of celebs and David Cameron's 'helpers'.

I hope as well as remembering her courage her family and friends will remember her as a friend, sister, and daughter, and happy ordinary memories throughout her lifetime

VERY BRAVE WOMAN RIP

An amazing, inspiring and very brave woman.