Three men have been found not guilty of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee. The 29-year-old was shot dead in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in 2019.
Background of the Incident
Lyra McKee died after being hit by a bullet while observing disturbances in the Creggan area on April 18, 2019. She was standing close to police vehicles when several petrol bombs were directed at officers and a car was set on fire. The chaotic scene culminated in four shots being fired towards police.
The New IRA claimed responsibility for her death at the time, prompting widespread condemnation and grief across Northern Ireland. The incident also exerted pressure on politicians to break an impasse and resume discussions about powersharing institutions at Stormont, which had been suspended for two years.
The Trial and Verdict
Judge Mrs Justice Smyth delivered the judgment in a long-running non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court. Paul McIntyre, 58, of Kells Walk in Derry; Peter Cavanagh, 38, of Mary Street; and Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, of Bishop Street, were charged with murder under joint enterprise. All three were found not guilty.
Lyra McKee's Legacy
Lyra McKee rose to prominence in 2014 after publishing a blog post titled "Letter to my 14-year-old self," in which she documented her struggles growing up as a young gay woman in Belfast. The letter was turned into a short film, and she later signed a two-book deal with Faber and Faber. She was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the "30 under 30 in media."
At her funeral, Lyra's sister, Nichola Corner, paid tribute, saying: "We have the power to create the kind of society that Lyra envisioned. One where labels are meaningless. One where every single person is valued. One where every single child gets the chance to grow up and to make their dreams come true." She added: "In the words of Lyra herself, we must change our own world one piece at a time, now let’s get to work."
