Three individuals have been acquitted of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in 2019. McKee, aged 29, was fatally shot while observing unrest in the Creggan area of Londonderry on April 18, 2019. The chaotic incident involved petrol bombs being thrown at police and a car being set ablaze, culminating in four gunshots being fired toward law enforcement officers.
The New IRA, a dissident republican paramilitary group, claimed responsibility for the killing. A trial commenced in May 2024 at Belfast crown court overseen by Mrs. Justice Smyth without a jury, where Paul McIntyre, 58, of Kells Walk in Derry, Peter Cavanagh, 38, of Mary Street, and Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, of Bishop Street, faced a joint enterprise murder charge.
Although none of the accused individuals were directly implicated in firing the fatal shot that took McKee’s life, the prosecution alleged that they had accompanied an unidentified gunman on the night of the incident and either encouraged or aided the shooter. Defense attorneys criticized the case’s reliance on circumstantial evidence and conjecture.
On Friday, all three defendants were declared not guilty of McKee’s murder. The verdict elicited minimal reaction from the accused when announced at Belfast crown court. McKee’s family expressed disappointment, stating that the justice system had let them and Lyra down. Her sister, Nichola Corner, described the outcome as unexpected and emphasized their commitment to seeking justice for McKee.
Justice Smyth acknowledged the senseless violence of McKee’s murder, highlighting the failure to bring the actual gunman to justice and the insufficiency of evidence against those accused of involvement. Reporters Without Borders urged authorities to pursue accountability and ensure justice for McKee’s death to safeguard press freedom.
