Family and friends remember ‘funny and kind’ Kathryn Parton at emotional vigil for murder victim

Friends and family of the 34-year-old, who was found dead in her Madrid Street home in east Belfast last week, gathered at Island Hill nature reserve in Comber on Friday evening to share stories of the mum-of-one.

Samantha Rutherford (35) organised the emotional vigil during which loved ones held a minute’s silence before releasing sky lanterns into the air.

“I’ve known Kathryn for about 16 years — this is where she grew up and a lot of people have memories of her here,” she told the Belfast Telegraph.

“Kathryn was so funny, she was always laughing and giggling, but she was so kind and had a really nice way with people.

“She would have done anything for you.

“I always said she was on Duracell batteries because she was constantly on the go.”

Ms Rutherford said she will always have a connection with Kathryn, whose son Bailey (13) is best friends with her own son.

“She will always live through him and I get to see him everyday,” she added.

“We are also here to stand in solidarity with all the women who have been murdered here.”

Speaking ahead of the vigil, Kat’s friend Tasha Bonny said she was a “bubbly and kind person, with a heart of gold”. She added: “Kat was a loyal friend. There are times we might not have seen each other for a while but she would have been the type that was always there if you needed her.

“I was in Spain on holiday when I got the news and it just broke me, I just wanted home after that, I’ve been listening to the voice notes she sent me just to remember her voice. She was a good person, she didn’t deserve what happened to her, she’ll be missed so much.”

Ms Parton, who sustained head injuries during the incident, was found dead in her bedroom on May 15 after her father became concerned about the lack of contact.

However, police believe she may have been fatally assaulted up to six days earlier. Her body was discovered beside the bed.

Earlier this week a PSNI detective told Belfast Magistrates Court there were signs of a disturbance, with a television broken on the floor and brackets still hanging on the wall. Ms Parton’s partner Jamie Love (23), of the same address, appeared in court accused of murder on a date between May 9 and May 15 with the aggravating factor of domestic abuse. He was remanded into custody following the hearing after no application for bail was made. His mother Suzanne Love (43), of Isoline Street, has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, assisting offenders and aiding and abetting breach of bail.

Meanwhile Reece Oliver (22), of Castleton Avenue, was also charged with assisting offenders and aiding and abetting breach of bail. Bail applications for both suspects were denied. All three are due appear in court again via videolink on June 17.

According to Women’s Aid, Ms Parton is the 19th woman to be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020, and the ninth woman under the age of 35 in the same period.