MURDERED BY COWARDS
Apologists for the vile thugs who yesterday shot dead an unarmed woman are trying to call it an ‘accident’. No, this was no less than a cold-blooded killing – by evil men
THE people of Derry and beyond have shown their revulsion for dissident republicans who shamefully tried to justify the cold-blooded murder of courageous young journalist Lyra McKee.
The 29-year-old LGBT activist was cut down by a New IRA gunman who fired into a crowd where police and local people in the nationalist Creggan area were gathered.
But in a sickening response yesterday, Saoradh – a political party that reflects New IRA thinking – tried to pass the blame for the horrific crime to the ‘British Crown Forces’.
Mobile phone footage shows the masked murderer crouching and firing
with a handgun. Ms McKee, who was standing at the back of a packed crowd – along with her partner – of local people near a PSNI vehicle, was fatally wounded and although PSNI officers rushed her to hospital to try to save her she later died.
Saoradh’s cynical statement, issued yesterday morning, tried to maintain that the indiscriminate killing was an attempt ‘to defend people from the PSNI’ and even insisted ‘the blame for last night lies squarely at the feet of the British Crown Forces’.
However, local people, activists and all political parties showed their disgust at the allegation.
A backlash has grown on social media, with the Twitter hashtag #NotInMyName trending throughout the day.
Local author and journalist Claire Allan told the killers: ‘You murdered a talented, vibrant woman who had just moved to this city after finding love. She had secured a major book deal and was listed as one of the rising stars in Ireland’s writing scene.
‘She was funny and warm and passionate about her work and promoting the rights of her community. She knew all about
‘She knew all about oppression and bigotry’
oppression and bigotry but she fought it with words, not guns. Shame on you. Not in my name.’
Ms McKee, who was last month listed among the ten rising stars of Irish writing, was killed as police mounted a series of raids aimed at averting the street trouble expected during Easter Rising commemorations.
She had recently moved to Derry to live with ‘love of her life’ Sara Canning.
In one of the last tweets sent before her death, she wrote: ‘Derry is such a beautiful city. I’ve fallen in love with it over the past year, while falling in love with a woman who hails from it.’
‘Here’s to better times ahead and saying goodbye to bombs and bullets once and for all,’ she poignantly added.
However, the apologists for her murder added to the pain of her family and loved ones by claiming the police searches were an ‘attack on the community’.
Saoradh’s shocking statement claimed: ‘A Republican Volunteer attempted to defend people from the PSNI/RUC. Tragically a young journalist covering the events, Lyra McKee, was killed accidentally while standing behind armed Crown Force personnel and armoured vehicles.
‘This outcome is heartbreaking and we extend our sincerest sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased.’
Ciaran Murray, co-founder of popular satire group The Ulster Fry, blasted the group for the ‘cowardly’ response. He said: ‘What’s almost more sickening than the tragic loss of Lyra’s life last night, is the cowardly statement by republican dissidents today that tries to push the blame to the police, the crown and anyone but themselves. That talks about a “campaign of oppression”, when in fact, it is our own communities that are being oppressed by them. These men are filling our children’s heads full of ideological bulls***, whilst filling their hands with guns. It has to end.’
Local woman Shauna Doherty said those responsible were no better than the British soldiers who carried out the Bloody Sunday killings.
She said she was: ‘Hoping the “soldiers” who pointed and shot the unarmed, innocent, clever and brave young female civilian, Lyra McKee, in Creggan last night, follow their own rhetoric about the Bloody Sunday soldiers and take full responsibility for one of the most intellectually, morally and operationally subnormal nights that my generation has ever seen
in this town. You are Soldier G, Soldier O and Soldier F now. Exactly like them.
‘You will hide your name, scurry behind the ranks of bullies, live in your echo chamber and deny this victim’s family the justice of seeing you behind bars where you belong.’
The Mayor of Derry and Strabane, councillor John Boyle, was equally scathing.
‘I think the important thing to bear in mind here is that we are talking about a young woman cut down in the prime of her life who comes from a beautiful lovely family, I know that, because I know them,’ he said. ‘If there is blame to be attributed it has to be attributed to those who pulled out a weapon, fired it indiscriminately up a street where there were many other civilians.
‘That’s where the blame lies, let’s not beat around the bush about this.’
In a rare move, a cross-party statement from all the major parties of the North was issued, condemning the killing and supporting the PSNI.
‘The murder of Lyra McKee is first and foremost a devastating loss for her grieving partner, family and friends, and our thoughts are with them at this awful time,’ it said. ‘Lyra’s murder was also an attack on all the people of this community, an attack on the peace and democratic processes.’
The PSNI said it believes more than one person was involved in the killing. ÷Meanwhile, the Irish Daily Mail understands that elite armed gardaí from the Specialist Detective Unit will have a significant presence at an Easter Rising event organised by Saoradh for 3pm today at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin.