Opinion
30 May 24

Three men go on trial over murder of journalist Lyra McKee

Lyra McKee by Jess Lowe.

Three men have been charged with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, along with seven men who face charges of rioting and throwing petrol bombs.

Three men have gone on trial charged with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, while seven others are also being prosecuted in the Belfast Crown Court on charges linked to disorder on the same night.

Lyra McKee was a journalist who wrote on post Troubles Ireland and was the editor of Mediagazer. On 18 April 2019, McKee was fatally shot during rioting in Creggan, Derry after police raids on dissidents with the aim of seizing ammunitions ahead of the Easter Rising commemorative parades due to take place in the area that weekend.

The 29-year-old journalist was shot in the head as she observed rioting close to the police lines.

The New IRA admitted responsibility for her murder, which was met with shock and public outcry.

Her funeral was attended by President Michael D. Higgins, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, DUP leader Arlene Foster, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O'Neill, as well as Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and then British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Those charged with her murder are 35-year-old Peter Cavanagh of Mary Street; 23-year-old Jordan Devine of Bishop Street and 56-year-old Paul McIntyre of Kells Walk, all from the city.

They were also charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The seven other defendants face a range of lesser charges including riot and throwing petrol bombs.

They are Joseph Patrick Barr, 36, of Sandringham Drive, Prehen Park, Derry; Jude McCrory, 23, of Gartan Square Derry; William Elliott, 57, of Ballymagowan Gardens, Derry; Joseph Anthony Campbell, 23, of Gosheden Cottages, Derry; Patrick Gallagher, 32, of John Field Place, Derry; Christopher Gillen, 43, of Balbane Pass, Derry; Kieran McCool, 55, of Ballymagowan Gardens, Derry.

The prosecution alleges that the masked gunman who shot Lyra McKee four times was brought to the firing point by number of men who assisted him.

It claims that three of those men are the accused Mr McIntyre, Mr Devine and Mr Cavanagh.

The trial was also shown unedited footage taken in Derry on the day of the riot by a documentary presented by Reggie Yates for MTV .

The documentary crew were shown around Derry by members of Saoradh - a dissent republican organisation.