Andew Allen’s killers were behind Lyra McKee’s murder, says Garda detective

A SENIOR Garda detective has said the same people who murdered Derry father-of-two Andrew Allen in 2012 were behind the murder of Lyra McKee earlier this year.

Inspector Pat O’Donnell was speaking after a Co Donegal inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of Mr Allen (24) who was shot dead by dissident vigilante group, Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) in February 2012.

In April this year, Ms McKee (29) was shot and fatally wounded when a New IRA gunman opened fire on a riot in Derry’s Creggan.

Inspector O’Donnell told Donegal’s Highland Radio that members of RAAD who were responsible had “morphed” into the New IRA.

The senior Garda said there was no evidence that Mr Allen was involved in the drugs trade.

“I can tell you for a fact he didn’t have a penny; he’d no money in his account. He was borrowing money; he was basically being supported by his partner. That’s the very sad thing, he died like that and they claim now he was a drug dealer, such nonsense,” he said.

Inspector O’Donnell had no doubt the same people who killed Mr Allen were behind Ms McKee’s murder.

“Those who committed the murder are still in Derry city and are still causing trouble in Derry city.

“These people will have to be stopped.

“They killed Andrew Allen; they killed Lyra McKee.

“They’re still trying to kill people and they have to be stopped,” he said.

A number of people have been arrested on both sides of the border over Mr Allen’s murder but none have been charged.

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