Dissident republican group the ‘New IRA’ shot dead journalist Lyra McKee in Derry, says senior detective
The 29-year-old journalist was shot in the head on Thursday night by a lone and masked terrorist lurking in the shadows of Creggan.
Despite valiant efforts of locals at the scene and police officers who administered first aid to Lyra before rushing her to Altnagelvin Hospital in the back of a PSNI landrover, the LGBT activist, author and writer tragically lost her fight for life around midnight.
Speaking today to the media at Strand Road police station, Det Supt Jason Murphy of the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team urged people to come forward with any information in a bid to help catch her killers and those who ordered the shooting.
Said Det Supt Murphy: “I’ve just come from a very difficult meeting with Lyra McKee’s family and her partner (Sara Canning) and, as you can imagine, they are absolutely devastated.
“Lyra’s family have a lot of questions, and I answered as many for them as I can at this stage.
“But I need more help from the community to answer all their questions and to bring those who killed Lyra to justice.
“Shortly before 11 pm on Thursday night, 29-year-old Lyra was murdered by terrorists.
“I believe that the people responsible are members of the New IRA.
“Lyra was killed by shots that were fired indiscriminately in Fanad Drive.
“The brutal nature of the attack has sent shock waves around the world.
“The shots were fired in a residential area at a time when there were large numbers of local people on the street including children.
The last moments of Lyra McKee’s life as she worked as a journalist when rioting erupted in Creggan
“We have already received unprecedented support from the local community and I would like to thank them for helping us to seek justice for Lyra’s family.
“I know there will be some people who know what happened but are scared to come forward.
“I want to reassure you that we will work with you sensitively.
“There is a sense that what happened to Lyra marked a sea change and I want people to have the confidence to come forward and help us.
“Those who killed Lyra in this cowardly attack must not be allowed to do this again.
“The individuals responsible for Lyra’s murder continue to hide in the shadows, attempting to justify their actions to each other.
“They have shown no courage to offer any explanation directly to Lyra’s family.
“Meanwhile the community continue to work together with local policing to bring a lasting and positive change for the community of the Creggan. This should be Lyra’s legacy.
“Lyra’s murder was not just an attack on Lyra – it was an attack on the fabric of the community.
The masked gunman who fired the fatal shots which killed Lyra McKee
“If you have information, no matter how small, please contact detectives in the incident room on 101 or via the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime,”
added Det Supt Murphy.
