Hundreds Attend Vigil in Londonderry Honoring Amy Doherty

Hundreds gathered in Londonderry for a vigil honoring Amy Doherty, the 30th woman killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, as family and community call for justice and action against violence toward women.

Vigil Held in Memory of Amy Doherty

Hundreds gathered in Londonderry city centre to attend a vigil commemorating Amy Doherty, a mother of two who was killed in the city last weekend.

The 28-year-old was discovered injured at a property in Summer Meadows Mews on Saturday morning and subsequently died in hospital.

Family handout Amy Doherty who has light blonde hair partly pulled back over her left shoulder, she is wearing a white lace top and smiling at the camera. — Amy Doherty was found injured on Saturday and later died in hospital

A man appeared in the city's Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with her murder.

Family and Community Response

At the vigil held in Guildhall Square, Amy's mother, Sharon Doherty, expressed gratitude to the people of Derry for their support and attendance in memory of her daughter.

"My daughter had been brutally taken from us and her babies."

"I don't want Amy and the other 29 women's murders to be in vain."

"All we want is justice for Amy."

Sharon Doherty emphasized the necessity for changes to address the high rates of violence against women and girls.

Earlier this week, Amy's family issued a statement expressing that they have been "crushed with disbelief, sadness and pain."

Amy Doherty is the 30th woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.

Vigil Organiser's Remarks

Vigil organiser Bethany Moore described the ongoing violence against women as "relentless, a relentless horror."

A woman with pink hair is wearing a pink pair of glasses, a purple jacket and a green and purple scarf. She is standing on steps in front of a small crowd of people — Vigil organiser Bethany Moore said ongoing violence against women "feels relentless, a relentless horror"

"We stood on the steps of the Guildhall in 2022 after the death of Aisling Murphy, we stood here in 2024 after the murder of Montserrat Elias also in the city,"

"And we stand here again in 2026 to mark the loss of Amy Doherty."

"I really hope something changes and we don't have to stand here again."

Tributes from Friends

Chris McMonagle, a friend of Amy Doherty, shared his feelings of numbness, sadness, and shock following her death.

a man with short hair stands in Derry's Guildhall Square. Some lit up buildings are in the background to his right, while on left is the red bricks of the Guildhall. He is wearing a black jacket over a pink hoodie — Chris McMonagle said his friend Amy Doherty was caring, bubbly and soft hearted

"Amy was bubbly, caring and honest,"

"She was soft hearted and the life and soul."

"Not only did she care for her children but she cared for others, worked in the health care setting, cared for the elderly,"

"It is our job now to carry on her legacy."

Community Participation

Many attendees at the large gathering in Guildhall Square carried candles or flowers in memory of Ms Doherty.

People also lined the city's walls overlooking the square, observing as posters were displayed bearing the names of all women killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.

A group of women stand on the steps of Derry's Guildhall, each holding a poster of a woman killed in Northern Ireland — All the women killed since 2020 were remembered at the vigil

Political Support

Foyle SDLP MP Colum Eastwood stated that the vigil represented the city's solidarity with Ms Doherty's family and with the numerous women subjected to violence in society.