A fundraising appeal for an Irish mother of four who was murdered in London before Christmas has raised over £11,000.
The funds are to take Ailish Walsh home to Ireland for her funeral with any remaining funds to go to her children.
The man accused of murdering 28- year- old Ailish has been remanded in custody with his trial date set for October at the Old Bailey.
Ailish Walsh suffered more than 40 puncture wounds allegedly at the hands of 37-year-old Liam Taylor at her home in Stoke Newington, east London.
Police were called to the at an address in Rectory Road N16 at approximately 10.20pm on Thursday 15 December to reports of an unresponsive woman.
The mother of four, who was 22 weeks pregnant, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Ailish was also pregnant with her fifth child at the time of her death.
It has been revealed she was expecting a little girl.
Liam Taylor, understood to be her partner, was charged in connection with her murder.
Taylor appeared at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Monday 19 December.
Mark Rogers, the Detective Chief Inspector leading the investigation, said: “This is an incredibly sad incident and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time.
“I want to reassure them and residents who will be shocked by what has happened in their community, we are working hard to establish what has happened.
“Anyone who witnessed anything out of the ordinary or has any information about this incident should contact police as soon as possible.”
Prosecutor Jane Osborne KC described the attack on Walsh as “exceptionally brutal”.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC set a plea hearing for 8 March and a three-week trial at the Old Bailey from 16 October.
Taylor was remanded into custody.
Family friends have been trying to raise money in her memory to get her body flown back to Ireland.
The appeal described Ailish as ‘a beautiful amazing young woman of 28 with 4 Young children and a little girl on the way’.
It also said Ailish was ‘sadly murdered by her boyfriend on Thursday night’.
Organiser Teresa Cannon wrote: “[She] was a beautiful amazing young woman of 28 with 4 young children and a little girl on the way.
“I would like to try and raise as much money as we can to help the family with the funeral costs and getting Ailish back home to Ireland to put her at rest and be back with her family.
“I know times are hard at the moment, but you cannot imagine how hard this is for her family and children so please, please, no matter how much or how little, every penny will help.”
The GoFundMe page has raised £11,000+ which is in excess of its original £5,000 goal.
In response to people’s generosity, she wrote: “Please keep sharing, as it will help the family with funeral costs.
“Whatever is left over will go to her four young children that she has left behind
“Please keep sharing to get Ailish home back with her children, so they can say their goodbyes to their mum.
“Thank you all for your kind contributions.”
If you can help the police investigation call 101 or Tweet at MetCC and give reference 6902/15Dec.
Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
