Amy Doherty: Guildhall vigil in memory of murdered woman

Hundreds of people carrying flowers and candles braved the bitter cold to attend a vigil in Derry’s Guildhall Square in memory of Amy Doherty who was murdered in the city.

Addressing those present, Amy’s mother, Sharon, who was visibly distressed and comforted by her husband, Amy’s father, Patrick, said Amy had been “brutally taken” from them “and her babies”.

“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 and to get Amy’s two babies home to us,” said Sharon, who thanked everyone for coming to the vigil.

“I can’t believe it. Thank you so much Derry,” she added.

Amy Doherty's mother, Sharon, and her father, Patrick, with Catherine Pollock (Alliance for Choice) at the vigil in her memory in Guildhall Square.

Amy (28) was found badly injured in a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the Waterside on Saturday morning and died later in Altnagelvin Hospital.

Connor McNamee (30) appeared at Derry Magistrates Court on Friday (March 27) charged with her murder, with the offence said to be aggravated by domestic abuse.

Organised by Alliance for Choice, the first speaker was the organisation’s Catherine Pollock who extended “deepest gratitude to each and everyone of you for coming here tonight to honour the life of Amy Doherty”.

Amy Doherty: Guildhall vigil in memory of murdered woman, organised by Alliance for Choice - Derry News (@DerryNow) digital report.

Hundreds of people carrying flowers and candles braved the bitter cold to attend a vigil in Derry’s Guildhall Square in memory of Amy Doherty who… pic.twitter.com/1zJJSoL9EC

— Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) March 27, 2026

“We can only imagine the pain and loss that those who loved her 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,” said Ms Pollock

“Words feel inadequate at a time like this. There is little to be said that can articulate the despair, shock and sadness we have all felt this week,” added Ms Pollock, who was then joined by Bethany Moore.

“We also want to acknowledge Ellie Flanagan who was murdered in Enniskillen on the day we stood here to celebrate International Women’s Day,” said Ms Moore.

“Ellie, like Amy, was a young woman in her twenties with her whole life ahead of her. 

“This week we have heard heartbreaking tributes from Natalie McNally’s family in Belfast as her murderer was finally brought to justice. They spoke about how Natalie was an inspirational person who would have been an amazing mother to baby Dean.

“At the start of March, people in Donaghadee gathered to remember the life of Sarah Montgomery and her unborn baby Liam. Sarah, who was 27 was remembered as a beautiful, kind and wonderful mother to two young girls.

“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 we are with you every step of the way. We are in awe of the strength of Amy’s family and particularly her mammy, Sharon,” said Ms Moore.

Amy's family releasing balloons in her memory at Friday night's vigil.

During the vigil family members released balloons in honour of Amy’s life and the lives of all of the women who have been killed.

Speaking next, Marie Brown, director of the Foyle Family Justice Centre and Foyle Women’s Aid said there was an “outpouring of support for women who are going through domestic violence at the minute” in the Guildhall.

“I hope they are all watching if they are not here so that they can know this community stands with them. That is really, really important,” added Ms Brown.

“I just want to say a few words of condolence to Sharon and Patrick directly on the loss of their daughter, Amy, and to Ryan and Shane who have lost their only sister.

“I know I speak for the whole community when I say our hearts, thoughts and support is with you, not only today but on the journey ahead that you will have. Women’s Aid will stand with you and support you.

“Amy’s children, Rhea and Ronan have lost the most important, precious person in the world - their mammy. And often we don’t think enough about what the children lose and the loss of sometimes mothers to suicide, when they lose their mother.

“I am struggling to find words to convey just how shocked and saddened we are at the brutal way you lost Amy. This whole community has been affected again by another woman’s murder in the city,” said Ms Brown.

“All the Family Justice Centre staff have been fielding calls all week for women reaching out for support, women in support services feeling scared, and families who have tragically been through the same experience at the loss of their daughters or loved ones. They have called to just say how it has impacted on them, how they wanted to wish the family well, and they just wanted to talk,” she added.

“We have had calls of offers of help and there were calls of women just wanting to talk because they felt very sad. They read about Amy’s death and they also read about all of the kindness and the person she was. 

“We are very grateful for all this support and the extra help that has been offered to us as a service in the weeks to come,” said Ms Brown.

“There are people here to help and you don’t have to live in this way,” was her direct message to anyone living with domestic violence.

Portraits of the 30 women murdered in the North since 2020.

Catherine Pollock and Bethany Moore read aloud the names of the 30 women who have been murdered in the North since 2020, after which a minute’s silence was observed in their memory.

Elizabeth Dobbin, Natasha Melendez, Emma Jane McParland, Patrycja Wyrebek, Katie Simpson, Susan Baird, Karen McClean, Stacey Knell, Ludmila Poletelova, Katie Brankin, Katrina Rainey, Caoimhe Morgan, Alyson Nelson, Una Noone, Hollie Thomson, Natalie McNally, Alesia Nazarova, Chloe Mitchell, Kat Parton, Patsy Aust, Sophie Watson, Montserrat Elias, Rachel Simpson, Mary Ward, Karen Cummings, Mary Green, Sarah Montgomery, Vanessa Whyte, Ellie Flanagan, and Amy Doherty.

The vigil ended with a song from talented local musician Cora Harkin.