Belfast Crown Court heard that the four gunshots that night were the “the culmination of orchestrated disorder”
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY JESS LOWE
The trial of three men accused of murdering LGBTQIA activist and journalist Lyra McKee began yesterday (30 May).The BBC reported that Peter Cavanagh (35) of Mary Street in Derry, Jordan Devine (23) of Bishop Street, and Paul McIntyre (56) of Kells Walk have all been charged with murder.
Lyra was a queer journalist who wrote extensively about the consequences of The Troubles, and she was an editor for Mediagazer. In 2016, she was named by Forbes as one of its 30 Under 30 in media for her outstanding work as an investigative reporter. She was shot while observing riots in Creggan in April 2019. The New IRA have claimed responsibility for her murder.
Belfast Crown Court was told that four gunshots were heard on the night of Lyra’s murder, fired by a masked man, which were “the culmination of orchestrated disorder”.
Many of Lyra’s family and friends were in the courtroom for the beginning of the trial, including her partner Sara Canning. At the time of her death, Lyra had brought an engagement ring and was planning to propose to her.
To honour her memory, Alison Millar made a film about her life entitled Lyra in 2022, which uses voice recordings and archival footage to tell the story of her remarkable life.
The trial continues. Justice for Lyra McKee.
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