Funeral service told ‘light of Amy Doherty’ should not be overshadowed by darkness of her death
The darkness and tragedy of Amy Doherty’s death cannot be allowed to define her, a priest has told those gathered for her funeral.
Parish priest Father Joe Gormley said there needs to be a culture where the life of every woman is seen as “a unique, eternal gift to our world”.
The Requiem Mass took place at Holy Family chapel in the Ballymagroarty area of the city on Thursday morning.
There were tearful scenes as family members carried Amy’s coffin into the church.
Father Gormley began the service by saying it was “a very sad day for the family of Amy Doherty” and “ a very sad say for the parish and city”.
Amy was found injured at a property in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city on Saturday at about 10.20am and later died in hospital.
A 30-year-old man was arrested on Saturday, and has been subsequently deemed unfit for interview by police.
It is understood he fell from the Foyle Bridge that morning, prompting road closures and a search and rescue operation.
Speaking to the congregation on Thursday, Father Gormley spoke of March 21 when Amy died marking the point when winter ends and the light of spring finally comes through.
But for Amy’s family, he said, the day brought “a darkness, a sadness and anguish deeper than any lack of daylight”.
He described Amy as a person with “a magnetic personality who would draw people to her by her joyful smile”.
She was a dedicated care worker and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic when patients were experiencing dark moments, she lifted their spirits with her sense of humour.
She would help people who were afraid to set up video calls, to enable them to connect with people outside.
Father Gormley said that at the heart of Amy’s care “was the greatest gifts of our life”, her children Rhea and Ronan.
“They are the centre of our life, the focus of our love and attention, and they are the centre of our thoughts and prayers today and beyond. This is the gift of who Amy Doherty is.”
The parish priest quoted Pope Francis when he praised “the genius of womanhood”, those who bring tenderness, empathy, practical wisdom, and God’s hope into the darkest of times.
Father Gormley added: “We cannot allow the darkness and tragedy of Amy’s death to define who she is. But how do we do this? How do we do this to honour Amy?
“I believe it begins with me, deep in my faith, in what Jesus has done for all people. How can they be revealed in this life and as a relationship with women, their beauty, their dignity, their unique genius?
“And in order to do this we must ask for his Holy Spirit to put on each and every one of us.
“To ask him to help us to build a new culture in this city and society and beyond where women are honoured, loved, and cherished in the same way as Jesus loved, honoured, and cherished women.
“Who knew he could depend on them when he couldn’t depend even on the disciples when he was crucified.
“This renewed culture is not merely one where zero tolerance of violence against women is the norm. But one where the life of every mother, daughter, granddaughter, niece, grandniece, cousin, and friend is seen as a unique, eternal gift of God to our world.
“When this begins to happen, the darkness that descended in the city would slowly give way to the light of the risen Christ, which Amy reflected in her joy, in her care, and her love, particularly for her children.”
On Wednesday, business was suspended at Derry City and Strabane District Council’s monthly meeting, with councillors instead paying tribute to Ms Doherty and discussing violence against women and girls.
A fundraiser to help look after Amy’s two children into the future has received more than £46k in donations over a 24-hour period.
Amy was the loving daughter of Patrick and Sharon, dear sister of Shane and Ryan, and granddaughter of John and Patricia Doherty, and Margaret and the late Patsy Mooney.
SOURCE: belfasttelegraph
