The mother of Amanda Jenkins has said 15 years behind bars is “not enough” as her daughter’s killer applies for parole. 

Stephen Carney was dating Amanda when he strangled her to death in October 2007. 

In 2008, he was sentenced to life in prison but could soon be released. 

“Amanda was a bright young bubbly girl who had her whole life ahead of her,” Amanda’s mother, Ann Jenkins, told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“She was a warm and loving daughter and she cared so much about family; she always worried about her family, her grandparents, she was always there for people.” 

Last week, Ms Jenkins received an email informing her that Carney would be up for parole; she is determined to be there and ask him why he called her daughter all those years ago. 

“It’s just nerve wracking because you’re waiting for the parole hearing,” she said. 

“I have applied to be at this parole hearing… and they’re going to send me all the details. 

“Thankfully, it’s a new thing that you can attend… and I can attend this one with a legal aid representative with me. 

“I want to look him in the face and ask him why and I want to see what he has to say to the parole board because this is a person who will never change. 

“In my eyes, I don’t think he’ll ever change.”

‘I’m doing the life sentence'

Amanda was an only child and the two had a close relationship. 

“It never leaves you,” Ms Jenkins said. 

“Anything that I do takes lumps out of me. I’m doing the life sentence not Stephen Carney. 

“From the time I wake up in the morning to if I do get a sleep, it’s always there in your head. 

“People say, ‘Think of the good times that we had’ - and yes, you can think of the good times but that’s taken away from you from the way she died, the way she was taken from you. 

“It never leaves you.”

Femicide

Ms Jenkins feels violence against women is still not being taken seriously enough and prison sentences can be too lenient. 

“I don’t think the justice system is doing enough,” she said. 

“I mean he’ll be 15 years [inside] this October and he’s up for his fourth parole. 

“Now I don’t know if he’s going to get it or not, but 15 years is not enough for taking someone’s life. 

“At the moment, he’s in an open prison down in Shelton Abbey. He gets to see his family; he gets to hug his family. 

“He’s a grandfather now and gets to see his grandchild. 

“I never get to have any of that. I wish I could have one day with Mandy just to hug her and I’d never let her go again. 

“And he took all that from me.”

A documentary, 'Marú Inár Measc - Dúnmharú Amanda Jenkins', about Amanda’s murder has been made by TG4 and will be broadcast tonight. 

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Main image: Amanda Jenkins. Picture by: Ann Jenkins