Alyson Nelson: Vigil held to remember Whitehead victim

About 300 people have taken part in a vigil for Alyson Nelson, who was killed in Whitehead, County Antrim, last week.

Those who gathered held a silence, while some tied white ribbons to seafront railings close to her home.

Ms Nelson, 64, was pronounced dead after police received reports of a stabbing last Saturday.

In a statement read during the vigil, her family said she had been "robbed of her life under the cruellest of circumstances".

The day after her body was found at a house in Victoria Avenue, police announced they had started a murder investigation.

A man appeared in court on Thursday charged with murder, which was alleged to have been aggravated by domestic abuse.

The domestic abuse aggravation is part of new legislation which was introduced in Northern Ireland in February.

Family members tied a white ribbon to the railings at the seafront, close to where Alyson Nelson died

The vigil on Saturday evening was led by Pastor Steve Ames, of Harbour Faith Community in Carrickfergus, who read the statement on behalf of Ms Nelson's family.

"We would like to thank the entire community of Whitehead, and further afield, for the outpouring of love and support over the past week since mum was robbed of her life under the cruellest of circumstances," it said.

The family added it took "great comfort" from knowing "how loved mum was and still is by her friends, her family and all those who stand with us".

'Overwhelming grief'

The pastor told BBC News NI "the grief has just been overwhelming for so many people" since Ms Nelson's death and the vigil was an opportunity to show support for her loved ones.

"As a family, they are stunned, it's been a long time since I've seen the kind of grief that they are going through," he continued.

A crowd gathered in Whitehead for the vigil on Saturday evening

"For them to come and stand here as well must have been hugely difficult, just not knowing what to expect.

"Now that they were here and seeing the sheer number of people standing around them, feeling the love and support, I think in weeks and months to come, especially as they look back to this day, it'll mean so much to them."

Those taking part in the vigil also walked to St Patrick's Church in Whitehead to sign a book of remembrance.

Members of the Belfast Feminist Network were involved in the vigil and said they were showing "solidarity with those grieving the loss of Alyson Nelson and with all victims of violence against women".