PEOPLE in Donegal have signed a petition of 11,000 signatures calling for a UK law to be enacted following the murder of a mum of two.
Amy Doherty (28) was found injured in a house in the Summer Meadows Mews area of Derry on Saturday morning, March 21. She died a short time later in hospital.
Connor McNamee, a welder from Meehan’s Terrace in Derry, is charged with her murder, with the offence said to be aggravated by domestic abuse.
He is also charged with possessing an offensive weapon, namely a kitchen knife, on the same date, as well as possession of Class A drugs.
McNamee appeared before court via video link on Friday last. He will appear again on Thursday, April 23.
A new law, known as ‘Jade’s Law’ aimed at stripping someone who kills an ex-partner of parental rights over their children has still not been implemented – 21 months after being passed in the UK Parliament.
The petition, ‘Jade’s Law Enactment’ is to “simply shield children from the influence of the person who murdered their parent, so that they don’t get to decide who has the children, what schools they go to, what holidays they can take and everything in between”, the petition letter states.
Elsewhere, Lifeline Inishowen held a candlelit vigil in Carndonagh on Friday evening last, in a show of support and solidarity with Ms Doherty and her family. A simultaneous vigil took place at the Guildhall in Derry.
A Go Fund Me established to raise funds for Amy’s two children, Rhea and Ronan, who are both aged under four years, has raised £82,263.
To sign the petition visit https://openletter.earth/jades-law-enactment-c10b08f4?limit=0