Lyra would have been sickened by denial of justice, says sister

She hits out on fifth anniversary of her murder

LYRA Mckee would rage against the Legacy Act and believe it was “criminal” for the Government to deny justice to Troubles victims, her sister has said.

Nichola Mckee-corner was speaking on the fifth anniversary of the 29-year-old journalist’s killing. She was shot dead by a New IRA gunman as she observed a riot in Derry.

Three men have been charged with her murder on April 18, 2019, and seven others in connection with offences that night. All 10 deny the charges. The gunman remains at liberty.

Ms Mckee-corner said: “We have lost Lyra, and we live with the pain of that every hour of every day.

“But at least our family potentially could get justice.

“Lyra wrote passionately about legacy cases. She told the stories of those campaigning for justice for their loved ones, and she became friends with them.

“She would be furious about the British government’s Legacy Act which now denies those people that right.

“She would think it deeply unfair that her family has the chance to get justice for her murder, while other families are denied the same for their loved ones due to a calendar date.”

The Legacy Act became law last September as the Government said it wanted to draw a line under the Troubles in which more than 3,600 people were killed from 1969 to 1998. Thousands of cases have been left unresolved.

The legislation represents a de facto amnesty for security force veterans and former paramilitaries. It halts inquests, civil cases and criminal prosecutions for killings during the conflict.

Despite a High Court judge ruling that one of its key elements is unlawful back in February, Secretary of State Chris Heaton-harris said the Government remained committed to implementing the Legacy Act and an appeal against the ruling is expected to be heard in June.

Ms Mckee-corner said: “Justice is the only gift that survivors can give to the loved ones they have lost.

“Lyra would have been outraged that thousands of families are now being denied this. Their stories touched her deeply.

“She became friends with Janet Donnelly whose father Joseph Murphy was killed by the British Army in the Ballymurphy Massacre in August 1971, with Shauna Moreland whose mother Caroline was killed by the IRA in July 1994, and with many more victims’ relatives.

“Lyra was a champion of human rights and would have seen what the Government is doing now as criminal. She would have been sickened by their attempt to deny bereaved relatives the precious right to justice.”

Ms Mckee-corner said her family would be remembering Lyra privately on Thursday, with no public event to mark the fifth anniversary of her murder.

“We are very mindful that we are not the only family in pain. Many others lost loved ones on April 18 in other years down through the Troubles.

“They live with the same trauma that we do.

“But we have an opportunity for some closure through the courts, and they will never have that chance.”

Ms Mckee-corner added: “We just want to remember Lyra quietly on Thursday — to talk about her and tell stories about her, and watch videos where she’s alive.

“It doesn’t seem like five years. It seems like five days. I still expect her to come bursting through the door to tell me all her news.”

The Northern Ireland Office has been contacted.