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'Shock and devastation' as community mourn death of woman

Social media A woman with long blonde hair looks into the camera as she takes a selfie. She has green eyes and wears red lipstick. She has a silver hoop earring in her left ear. Social media
A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Amy Doherty

Tributes are being paid as police continue their murder investigation into the death of a woman in Londonderry.

Police were called to a property in Summer Meadows Mews, in the Waterside area of the city, at about 10:20 GMT on Saturday.

The woman, named locally as Amy Doherty, was found injured at the scene. She was taken to hospital where she later died.

A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Political representatives have described the "shock and devastation" felt across the community following news of the mother-of-two's death.

Aodhán Roberts Police and forensic officers outside a red brick house. Police car is parked outside also. Aodhán Roberts
Police are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the woman's death

Forensic officers and detectives have spent much of Sunday at the property.

Police have also conducted door-to-door inquiries and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson described the young woman's death as an "unimaginable loss".

"A young woman's life was taken in the latest act of violence against women and girls and I appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI," she added.

Ferguson said: "The Executive's Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls sets out how it aims to tackle this scourge in our society".

"But we must all do more to confront the causes and cultures behind this violence and to do everything possible to bring the harm and abuse of women to an end."

Aodhán Roberts A white and black sign saying 'Summer Meadows' on a red brick wall. Aodhán Roberts
Police were called to the scene on Saturday morning

In a post on social media, SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said it was "heart-breaking and horrific news that a young lady has been murdered in Derry".

He said he was "thinking of everyone affected" by the incident.

"Nobody more so than the family and friends of that poor girl," he added.

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Amy's employer, NWCare, who provide domiciliary care services, said they were "devastated to learn about the unexpected passing" and that she "was the essence of humanity, kind, compassionate and beautiful".

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and children at this very sad and difficult time," they said.

A woman with long, brown hair, wearing black-rimmed, clear glasses stairs into the camera. She wears a black and white striped shirt as she stands in a housing development, with houses either side of her. A variety of cars are parked in drive ways and partially on the footpath outside the houses.
Alderman Julie Middleton said there is a feeling of anger surrounding the incident

Londonderry DUP Councillor Julie Middleton said the "time for warm words has passed".

She said people were "absolutely devastated, shocked, horrified and a real feeling of anger at this terrible loss of life, a life stolen violently."

She called for a "real change," claiming that there "is a huge problem with violence against woman and girls in Northern Ireland".

"We can't have young woman that become statistics, we can't have families that have to live their whole life without their loved one, at the hands of others."

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