The 29-year-old mother of two was found badly injured at her home on March 21 and died later in hospital
Amy Doherty’s mum Sharon Doherty (centre in black coat) attending the vigil held at Guildhall Square in Derry on Friday night. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN
The mother of Amy Doherty has said she doesn’t want her daughter’s death to be in vain, as she called for changes to a ‘flawed system’.
Sharon Doherty addressed a packed Guildhall Square on Friday night as hundreds gathered in memory of Amy and 29 other women who have been killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.
“Amy has been brutally taken from us, and her babies,” she said.
“I don’t want Amy and the other 29 women’s murders to be in vain.
“Changes need to be made to a flawed system.
“Now all we want is justice for Amy; to get Amy’s two babies home to us.”
Ms Doherty thanked the large crowd for coming out to the vigil.
The vigil, which was organised by Alliance for Choice Derry, took place a day after Ms Doherty’s funeral, where large crowds came out to pay their respects.
The 29-year-old mother of two was found badly injured at her home in the Waterside area of the city on Saturday, March 21, and later died in hospital.
A murder investigation was launched by police and earlier on Friday, 30-year-old Connor McNamee, of Meenan’s Terrace in Derry, appeared in court via sightlink where he was charged with her murder.
He spoke only to confirm he understood the charges and will next appear in court on April 23.
Mourners at Ms Doherty’s funeral heard on Thursday that she was a “dedicated care worker” who had a “magnetic personality”.
A fundraiser to support her two young children, Rhea and Ronan, has raised upwards of £75,000.
On Friday night, hundreds gathered outside the Guildhall for the candlelit vigil.
Similar events also took place in Carndonagh, Co Donegal, and Armagh.
Alliance for Choice Derry activists Catherine Pollock and Bethany Moore were among those who addressed the crowd on Friday.
“We can only imagine the pain and loss that those who loved [Amy] are feeling in this moment and we want to extend our love and deepest sympathies to her children, Rhea and Ronan, and her family and friends who clearly adored her,” Ms Pollock said.
“Words feel inadequate at a time like this.
“There is little to be said that can articulate the despair, shock and sadness that we have all felt this week.”
Referencing the recent death of Ellie Flanagan and the conviction of Natalie McNally’s murderer this week, Ms Moore added: “Across the region, communities are reeling from the relentless horror of this violence.
“Too many families have experienced this, many of them present here tonight. We want you to know that we are with you every step of the way.
She paid tribute to the strength of Amy’s mother, Sharon, who spoke at the vigil.
Balloons were released following Ms Doherty’s speech and the names of all 30 women were read to the crowd – most of whom, it was noted, were killed in their own homes.
Speaking to The Irish News in Derry, SDLP MLA Mark Durkan said it’s been ‘extremely heartening to see the community rally behind Amy’s family and friends’ this week.
He said: “People in the area have always been supportive of each other and always extremely empathetic.
“It’s important that that level of support is sustained going forward; the family are in for a very long and hard road ahead of them.”
Mr Durkan said that Friday’s vigil was important not only for Amy’s family and the families of the other women who have been killed, but also for “the countless women who are currently trapped in abusive relationships that feel that they have nowhere to go”.
“It’s important that they know what support is out there.”
Mr Durkan added that “how we stand up to, call out and tackle misogyny” needs to change within society, particularly among men.
