A vigil is set to be held for a woman who was killed by her boyfriend while 22 weeks pregnant.

Ailish Walsh was stabbed more than 40 times at a flat in Hackney on December 15 last year.

One year on from her death, a vigil has been planned close to her former home in Walthamstow.

Organised by her friend, Sabrina Shelley, the event will start at Crate in St James Street at 4pm on Friday (December 15).

It will include decorating a Christmas tree at the venue, where branches will be hung with purple ribbons, baubles and feathers.

Sabrina described Ailish as a “superstar”, adding that she always “brought the laughter to the party”.

She said that Ailish would take her young son on days out and looked after him when she was unwell.  

Sabrina added: “I wanted the anniversary of her death to be something positive rather than something negative.

“My main aim this year was to turn the anniversary into something special. She loved Christmas.

“We are decorating the tree on her behalf because it was one thing that she did and took so much time in doing and was so proud of her tree last year.

“I don’t think we could ever make it look as good as hers but I want everyone to look at the tree and ask why it’s covered purple.”

The purple ribbon is often adopted to remember and honour those who have lost their lives to domestic violence.

Sabrina added: “We don’t want her loss to go in vain and if we can try and save one person’s life this year that’s our aim.”

At the vigil, prizes donated by local businesses can be won as part of a charity raffle.

Entries cost £1 and prizes include hampers and membership of the Walthamstow Trades Hall.

All proceeds will be given to Solace Women’s Aid or The Women’s Decision Group.

Sabrina said: “You don’t know the services are there until you actually become a victim and I think that’s the saddest part because there is no prevention.”

She added that The Women’s Decision Group was chosen because the charity supports not only victims, but also their children and family.

Ailish spent some of her childhood in Waltham Forest before moving to Ireland.

She returned to the borough at the start of 2021, and lived there until the last few months of her life.