'All we want is justice for Amy': Thousands gather at vigil for mother after man charged with murder

Thousands have gathered for a vigil to honour a mother of two who was killed last week.

Amy Doherty, 28, was found seriously injured at a property in Derry last Saturday and later died in hospital.

Hundreds could be seen gathered at the city's Guildhall on Friday evening carrying flowers and purple balloons.

In an emotional address to the crowd, Amy's mother Sharon said her 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," she said, referring to other female victims violently killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.

"All we want is justice for Amy."

Balloons were then released into the sky in honour of Ms Doherty and other women killed in Northern Ireland.

Earlier in the day Connor McNamee, 30, appeared in court, charged with Ms Doherty's murder.

He was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, a kitchen knife, and possession of a class A controlled drug, cocaine.

McNamee appeared at Londonderry Magistrates' Court via videolink.

He was remanded in custody and is next due to appear in court on 23 April.

Ms Doherty's funeral was held on Thursday, in which she was described as a "dedicated" care worker and a person with a "magnetic personality".

Her death and other high-profile cases have prompted discussions on women's and girls' safety in Northern Ireland.

Read more from Sky News:
Council leader guilty of multiple sex offences against young men and boys
Man questioned by police in Mohamed al Fayed sex abuse investigation

The issue of violence against women and girls has dominated political discussions this week after the deaths of two women this month and the conviction of Stephen McCullagh for the murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally

On Friday, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) concerns around their capacity to tackle violence against women and girls "cannot be ignored".

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said violence against women and girls was the "substantive" issue discussed by the Executive on Thursday, adding that he was considering organising a summit of women's rights and community groups to engage with people on the issue.

(c) Sky News 2026: 'All we want is justice for Amy': Thousands gather at vigil for mother after man charged wit