Amy Doherty had a “magnetic personality who would draw people to her by her joy filled smile”

On a grey and cloudy Thursday morning, Derry was united in mourning as the funeral of Amy Doherty has taken place.

A huge crowd gathered at Holy Family Church in Ballymagroarty to meet the white horse drawn carriage that carried the remains of the mother-of-two young children.

A guard of honour made up of Amy's work colleagues from NW Care Northern Ireland greeted her remains.

Amy was was found badly injured in a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city on Saturday. The 28-year-old was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital where she later died.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in custody. The PSNI has confirmed the man is receiving medical treatment and is not fit for police interview.

The funeral cortege of Derry murder victim Amy Doherty arriving at Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty.

Celebrating Requiem Mass local parish priest Fr Joe Gormley described Amy a young woman who had a “magnetic personality who would draw people to her by her joy filled smile”.

Fr Gormley told the packed church of mourners that Amy's death had “brought a darkness, sadness and anguish deeper than the lack of daylight”, to her family and friends and the wider community.

“Last Saturday, March 21 marks the point in the year when, finally after the darkness of the winter months, the light of Spring finally wins through,” Fr Gormley said. “From March 21 for the next six months the time of light in our days exceeds the time of darkness. However, for Rhea and Ronan, Sharon and Patrick, Shane and Ryan and the Doherty and Mooney families, this parish and city, the death of Amy brought a darkness, sadness and anguish deeper than the lack of daylight.

“This darkness is deeper than the lack of daylight because the light of the life of a mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, grandniece, niece, cousin and friend was so tragically ended.

“The darkness is in a sense deeply intensified when we hear the human story of the beauty of who Amy Doherty is.”

Fr Gormley told mourners that Amy was dedicated care worker throughout the Covid crisis who would “lift the spirits of the patients with Covid in Altnagelvin Hospital”.

“She would set up video calls to enable people to connect encouraging and enabling those who had not connected with others for some time to do so,” he said.

The parish priest said Amy's children Rhea and Ronan were they “centre of her life, the focus of her love and attention”.

“They are at the centre of our thoughts and prayers today and beyond,” he said. “This is the gift of who Amy Doherty is. I deliberately said who Amy Doherty is, rather than was, because for Christians we are never someone who was, but someone who always is because of the suffering death and resurrection of Christ.

“On the day of our baptism as infants, we are given the promise an pledge of eternal life. Amy as the eldest and only daughter of Patrick and Sharon was given that pledge on the day of her baptism in St Eugene’s Cathedral and became God’s beloved daughter.

“The gospel we have just listened to, tells of the cruel and violent death of Jesus The death of Amy as we know is tragic because it was not of natural causes.”

Mourners at the funeral of Derry murder victim Amy Doherty at Holy Family Church.

Fr Gormley told mourners that they “cannot allow the darkness and tragedy of Amy’s death define who she is”.

“How do we do this to honour Amy?” he asked. “I believe it begins with me. It begins with me by deepening my faith in what Jesus has done for all people and how he revealed in his life and his relationship with women, what the late Pope Francis called, their unique genius.

“We ask for the power of His Holy Spirit and ask to help all of us to build renew our culture, where women are honoured, loved and cherished as he did.

“This renewed culture is not merely where zero tolerance of violence against women is the norm, but where the life of every mother, daughter granddaughter, niece, grandniece cousin and friend is seen as a unique eternal gift from God to our world.

“When this begins to happen the darkness that descended on this city will slowly give way to the light of the Risen Christ which Amy reflects in her life and the light we pray today, she shares in for eternity.”

A friend of Amy, Jasmine, read a poem about her which described her as “the laughter in the daylight” and “the warmth of every room”.

The poem also included the lines: “Amy is more than how she left us” and “She’s not a shadow, she’s not a number, but she’s the light she gave so free”.

Amy was the beloved mother of Rhea and Ronan. Loving daughter of Patrick and Sharon. Dear sister of Shane and Ryan. Granddaughter of John and Patricia Doherty, and Margaret and the late Patsy Mooney and a much loved niece and cousin.

A vigil in memory of Amy will take place on Friday, March 27 at 7.00pm at the Guildhall. Those attending have been urged to bring candles and flowers.

Since news emerged of the shocking incident, there has been an outpouring of grief has descended over Derry.

In a statement issued on Monday, Amy's parents Sharon and Patrick spoke of how devoted, kind and loving their daughter was.

"Amy is our beautiful only daughter. She is the best mother Rhea and Ronan could ask for. She loved her brothers Shane and Ryan," they said, adding: "Our hearts are crushed with disbelief, sadness and pain.

"Amy’s life revolved around her love and care of Rhea and Ronan. In her daily work she cared for the sick and the elderly.

"Her bubbly character and fun loving spirit lifted the hearts of all who met her.”

According to Women’s Aid, Ms Doherty is the 30th woman in Northern Ireland to be killed since 2020.

Women’s Aid NI offered their “sincerest, heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all those who knew and loved her”.

“We cannot begin to imagine your pain following Amy’s death, but please know we stand with you, and you will forever remain in our hearts and thoughts,” they said.

“Amy is the 30th adult woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, a devastating statistic that comes merely two weeks after the Fermanagh community also lost Ellie Flanagan.”

Amy’s employer NW Care Northern Ireland said they were “devastated to learn about the unexpected passing of Amy”.

In a statement they described Amy as “one of our much loved and exceptional staff”, adding: “Amy was the essence of humanity, kind, compassionate and beautiful.

Care workers form a guard of honour for their colleague, Derry murder victim Amy Doherty at Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty on Thursday morning. Included is Fr. Joe Gormley, P.P.