Judgment Reserved After Lengthy Trial of Three Men Accused of Murdering Journalist Lyra McKee
A Belfast judge has reserved judgment following the conclusion of the non-jury trial of three men accused of murdering Belfast journalist Lyra McKee. The trial, which commenced at Belfast Crown Court in May 2024, has spanned almost two years, hearing evidence related to a total of 52 charges against nine Londonderry men allegedly involved in rioting and attacks on police in April 2019.
Defence Challenges Quality of Evidence in Complex Case
Defence barristers have strongly criticised the standard of evidence presented during the trial, describing it as almost entirely circumstantial. Mark Mulholland KC, representing one of the accused, acknowledged that police "properly left no stone unturned" in their investigation into what he described as the undoubtedly tragic death of Ms McKee. However, he contended that "sadly some officers strayed outside of their duties, lines were crossed and expert witnesses were compromised."
The Fatal Night of April 18, 2019
The 29-year-old author and journalist died after being struck by a bullet while standing near police vehicles observing disturbances in Derry's Creggan area. The incident occurred as TV presenter Reggie Yates and an MTV crew were filming in the area for a documentary that included interviews with members of Saoradh, a fringe republican political party with a Derry office.
Chaotic scenes unfolded with several petrol bombs directed at police and a car set ablaze, culminating in four shots being fired toward officers. The prosecution maintains these shots were aimed and deliberate, with the New IRA subsequently claiming responsibility for Ms McKee's death.
The Accused and Charges
Paul McIntyre, 58, of Kells Walk in Derry; Peter Cavanagh, 37, of Mary Street; and Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, of Bishop Street, face a joint enterprise murder charge along with other charges connected to the shooting and rioting. Six additional Derry men face charges including rioting and throwing petrol bombs in the non-jury trial. Another man accused of similar offences died during trial proceedings last year.
The prosecution alleges the three murder-accused men accompanied a lone gunman to the firing point that night and encouraged or assisted him. They claim the men, who deny all charges, are linked to the scene through clothing and physical features.
Trial Proceedings and Evidence
The trial has proceeded intermittently over two years, with Judge Mrs Justice Smyth rejecting a defence application in February that argued there was no case to answer. Evidence presented included testimony about a "horrifying" scream heard after the fatal shot and police accounts of transporting Ms McKee to hospital in a Land Rover through burning vehicles and crowds.
Officers performed CPR during the approximately five-minute journey to Altnagelvin Hospital, but Ms McKee was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The prosecution completed closing submissions in March, with defence barristers delivering theirs this week.
Defence Arguments and Identification Issues
During Thursday's proceedings, Mr Mulholland KC questioned the identification of his client as "person D" in footage from April 18, noting that three witnesses contradicted the identification regarding height and that no police officer could "reliably" identify McIntyre in the disturbances. He also queried why the person identified as D wasn't seen wearing glasses, as McIntyre does.
When Mrs Justice Smyth suggested McIntyre might not wear glasses constantly, Mr Mulholland countered that if someone intended to pick up bullet cartridges or throw petrol bombs at police, "you would wear your glasses." He concluded by describing the prosecution case as a "white dot on a coat" and urged the court to acquit his client.
Judge's Closing Remarks
Mrs Justice Smyth thanked all counsel for their work in what she described as a "very complex case" with multiple perspectives requiring each defendant to be considered separately. "For that reason, I cannot give a date of final judgment," she stated. "It will take some time, but this case will have my prioritisation."
