A 52-year-old man has been charged with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry
BY SOPHIE GRIFFITHS
Last April, journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead by dissident republicans as she observed rioting in Londonderry.
Whilst stood near a police van, she was hit by a bullet which was fired towards officers and onlookers by a masked gunman.
The so-called New IRA said it carried out the killing, which took place on the Creggan estate in Derry on 18 April 2019.
It said Lyra McKee was caught in the line of fire while standing with what the organisation called “the enemy”.
The 52-year-old suspect, Paul McIntyre, was arrested this week and taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite in Belfast.
He has also been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation.
During a 50-minute hearing, defence lawyer Derwin Harvey said: “The allegation against Mr McIntyre is that Mr McIntyre is at this riot and a male shoots the gun and that Mr McIntyre, after the gun was shot, picks up the cases.”
The court heard a defence submission, but the judge adjourned the hearing until he received further information from prosecution about the evidence that links McIntyre to the murder.
Paul McIntyre will next appear in court 27 February 2020.
The gay rights activist, who lived with her partner Sara Canning, was an advocate for a more tolerant Northern Ireland.
I miss her so much, this week has been very Lyra filled for me. I’ve been rereading our messages, watching us fall in love and remembering. Now I’m rereading her writing, and being reminded of how insightful and balanced she was.
— Sara (@Teh_Woo) December 14, 2019
News of Lyra’s death last year was met with widespread sorrow and a renewed effort to restore a power-sharing agreement in Stormont following years of political instability in the country.
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