'Darkness of Amy's murder should not overshadow the light she was'

A woman murdered at the weekend has been described as a "devoted mother to her two children" and "dedicated carer in her professional life".

"Amy was a light. The darkness and tragedy of her death should not overcome the light that she shone in the lives of others," said Fr Joe Gormley, who presided over her Requiem Mass in Londonderry on Thursday.

Ms Doherty was found injured at a property in Summer Meadows Mews on Saturday at about 10:20 GMT and later died in hospital. A 30-year-old suspect remains in custody.

On Thursday morning, the parish priest told mourners it was the responsibility of everyone to play a role in eradicating the issue of violence against women and girls from society.

Hundreds of mourners followed the cortege from Ms Doherty's parents' home to Holy Family chapel in Ballymagroarty.

They included family and friends of the 28-year-old.

Staff from Altnagelvin hospital, where Amy Doherty worked for five years nursing patients, formed a guard of honour and held yellow roses.

Staff from North West Care where Amy worked as a carer were also part of the tribute.

Several hundred people also gathered in the chapel car park as her coffin was removed from a horse drawn carriage and taken inside.

Fr Gormley, who has been close to those impacted by the tragedy since it occurred, said he was "humbled by the graciousness of Amy's family".

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, he said: "You talk about sparkle, that's what Amy was, from her grandparents, to her big brother, and particularly to (Amy's parents) Patrick and Sharon, and (her children) Rhea and Ronan - to who she was the light of their lives."

He said the outpouring of support since Amy's death had been "enormous", with a huge attendance expected at her funeral on Thursday and at the vigil organised in memory of her, due to take place on Friday.

But despite the "enormity" of goodwill witnessed "in the city and beyond", Fr Gormley said Amy's loved ones are struggling to come to terms with "the reality of what has happened".

"(All that support) doesn't take away the pain. That doesn't take away the anger. That doesn't take away the frustration."

During the funeral, Fr Gormley further reflected on the shock and pain the family are experiencing.

He said Ms Doherty's death had "crushed" her family's hearts, adding that they find themselves in a situation that "this time last week they never imagined they would be in".

"Their loss is unimaginable. We have to think of the two children… we have two children now without a mother, a mother who loved them," he said.

"They were at the centre of everything she did."

In a statement issued earlier this week Ms Doherty's family said they have been "crushed with disbelief, sadness and pain".

"In the resurrection scene, it is women who come to tend the body of Jesus," said Fr Gormley.

"And this is the unique genius of women - in the midst of cruelty and violence, they are often the ones who speak sense and to our humanity.

"I've no doubt that if Amy was alive at the time of Jesus, she would have been one of those women tending to his body after the crucifixion."

The parish priest spoke about the importance of creating a society that respects women, saying: "We always have to challenge our culture."

"It's about converting all hearts and minds to value women for the unique gift that they give."