Thousands of people gathered in Derry (Londonderry) on Friday evening for a poignant vigil to honour Amy Doherty, a 28-year-old mother of two who was brutally killed last week.

Ms Doherty was found seriously injured at a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city on Saturday, 21 March, and was rushed to hospital, where she later died. Her death has sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited broader concerns about violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland.

Attendees filled Guildhall Square on Friday evening, many carrying flowers and purple balloons in a powerful display of solidarity and grief. The atmosphere was heavy with emotion as the crowd came together to remember Ms Doherty and other women who have lost their lives to violence in the region.

In a deeply moving address to the gathered crowd, Amy’s mother, Sharon Doherty, spoke of the devastating loss. She described how her daughter had been “brutally taken from us and her babies,” referring to Amy’s two young children. Fighting back tears, Sharon declared: “I don’t want Amy and the other 29 women’s murders to be in vain,” alluding to the approximately 30 women who have been violently killed in Northern Ireland since 2020. “All we want is justice for Amy.”

Following the speeches, purple balloons were released into the evening sky in a symbolic tribute to Amy Doherty and all the other female victims of violence in the province.

Earlier that day, 30-year-old Connor McNamee, a welder from Meehan’s Terrace in Derry, appeared via videolink at Londonderry Magistrates’ Court charged with Ms Doherty’s murder. The charge is understood to be aggravated by domestic abuse. He was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon — a kitchen knife — and possession of a Class A controlled drug, cocaine. McNamee was remanded in custody and is next due to appear in court on 23 April.

Ms Doherty’s funeral took place on Thursday, where she was remembered fondly as a dedicated care worker and a devoted mother with a “magnetic personality” that drew people to her warm smile and joyful nature. Mourners described her as the “nicest, bubbliest girl” who lit up any room she entered.

The tragic killing of Amy Doherty, coming shortly after other high-profile cases, has intensified public and political debate on women’s and girls’ safety across Northern Ireland. This week, the issue dominated discussions following the recent conviction of Stephen McCullagh for the murder of his pregnant partner, Natalie McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death in 2022.

On Friday, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson stated that concerns raised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) about their capacity to tackle violence against women and girls “cannot be ignored.”

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt described violence against women and girls as the “substantive” issue addressed by the Executive on Thursday. He indicated that he is considering organising a summit involving women’s rights and community groups to engage directly with the public on this pressing matter.

Amy Doherty’s death has become a catalyst for calls for urgent action. Her family, friends, and the wider community are united in demanding justice and meaningful change to prevent further tragedies. As Sharon Doherty powerfully stated at the vigil, the deaths of these women must not be allowed to fade into silence — they must drive real reform to protect women and girls in Northern Ireland.