ABSOLUTE MADNESS
»» Cops release footage of shots fired by gunman »»Last tweet of brave reporter reveals mayhem »»Parties unite to condemn evil dissident killing
CHILLING footage of the gunman who killed Lyra Mckee was released by police last night.
The 29-year-old was reporting on rioting in Derry when she was shot by suspected dissident republicans.
Moments before she was gunned down on Thursday night, the journalist tweeted a picture of the scene with the words: “Derry tonight. Absolute madness.”
In a rare joint statement, the UUP, DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance and Green Party said: “Lyra’s murder was an attack on all the people of this community.”
THE journalist murdered by dissident republicans was a person of courage and integrity, her devastated colleagues said.
The National Union of Journalists described Lyra Mckee as a woman of “great commitment and passion” with a promising career ahead of her.
The Irish President and political leaders from both sides of the border were among those paying tribute to the 29-year-old who was shot dead during a riot in Derry.
NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet added: “A young, vibrant life has been destroyed in a senseless act of violence.
“Our thoughts are with her partner, family and many friends and colleagues. A bright light has been quenched and that plunges all of us in to darkness.” The union said for many people their first introduction to Ms Mckee’s work was her piece about growing up gay in Belfast – Letter To My 14-Yearold Self. It was subsequently turned into a powerful short film.
Angels With Blue Faces, a book about the Troubles murder of South Belfast MP Rev Robert Bradford, was released last year.
Faber is due to publish her latest work, The Lost Boys, next year. NUJ assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley added: “Lyra Mckee was a journalist of courage, style and integrity. She was a woman of great commitment and passion.”
Ms Mckee had worked for a range of other publications. President Michael D Higgins said those behind Thursday night’s killing of the journalist do not represent anybody in the country and urged them to reflect of their “appalling actions”.
He was speaking after signing a book of condolence at Belfast City Hall yesterday.
Mr Higgins added: “Earlier this morning I expressed my shock on behalf of all of the Irish people and our outrage too at the taking of the life of a talented writer, journalist, campaigner for rights. In the course of her professional work to be taken away in such a fashion, and I have to say as well by those who represent, I think, nobody on this island.
“It was an outrageous act and I want on behalf of all of the people of Ireland to express our deepest sympathy to her partner Sara and her family and friends, and all of those who will have worked with her.
“The circumstances in which it happened, the firing on the police force that are seeking to protect the peace process, cannot be condoned
She changed lives as she lived and will do so again in death
LEO VARADKAR
DUBLIN YESTERDAY
by anybody. Our hearts go out.” Ann Travers, whose sister Mary was murdered by the IRA in 1984, said Ms Mckee was a kind and gifted person.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid tribute to the victim as he gave a statement outside Government Buildings in Dublin.
He added: “An activist and journalist, she changed lives as she lived and will do so again in death.
“Twenty-one years ago today on Good Friday, we as a people, North and South, chose peace, democracy, powersharing and ever closer cooperation, and we will not be dragged into the past. There is no place or any justification for political violence in Ireland or Northern Ireland today.
“This was an act of fear, this was an act of hate and this was an act of cowardice.
“Those who carried it out do not share the views of our nation nor of our republic and we reject them.”
Amnesty International said it was “utterly devastated” by the death of Ms Mckee, who was to appear at one of its events in Belfast next month about the dangers of reporting violent conflicts.
Northern Ireland programme director Patrick Corrigan added: “Lyra was a great young journalist whose commitment to truth was absolute and whose laughter could light up a room.
“Lyra Mckee was one of those courageous seekers after truth, with a life ahead of her and so much to give.
“Our thoughts are with Lyra’s partner, her family and many friends.”
Society of Editors executive director Ian Murray said: “Lyra was a tremendous talent and the journalistic world has lost one of its bright hopes for the future.
“The death of anyone under such circumstances is to be roundly condemned, but for those of us working in the media it is terrible to lose such a fantastic colleague.”
Director of The Rainbow Project John O’doherty added: “Lyra was a remarkable person, a professional and committed journalist and a hero to many in the LGBT community.
“This morning we have been reading about the huge impact Lyra had on so many within Northern Ireland’s LGBT community, including supporting people in coming out and using her own coming out story to empower others to live as their most authentic selves.
“Lyra has always been a supporter of The Rainbow Project having volunteered and fundraised for us including at a Strictly Come Dancing fundraising event.
“Lyra described herself as someone with two left feet – but like everything she did in her life she gave it everything she had and our lasting memory will be of a smiling and dancing Lyra.
“Our thoughts are with Lyra’s family, partner, friends and everyone across society who will be feeling this loss.
“Violence to achieve political aims can never be justified and we hope that the perpetrator is brought swiftly to justice.”
THOSE behind the shooting of 29-year-old Lyra Mckee have been told to “hang their heads in shame”.
Flanked by political representatives from across Derry, Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin yesterday insisted the city was “not out of control”.
The journalist’s murder, which sent shockwaves around the world, has been blamed on dissident republican group the New IRA.
Outside the Guildhall, DCC Martin said: “Lyra’s murder at the hands of a gunman has been met with global condemnation, horror and revulsion.
“I should not be standing here today condemning the loss of a young life at the hands of evil people who have nothing to offer.
“The gunman and those who share his warped ideology should hang their heads in shame. They represent no one.
“Lyra’s murder has appalled not just people across this city but people around the world and there has been a wave of shock and sympathy from her colleagues in journalism, politicians, church and community leaders.
CRUEL
“Today is Good Friday and it’s a cruel twist in our history that 21 years ago the majority of people in Northern Ireland signed up to the Belfast/good Friday Agreement yet here we are mourning the loss of a talented young woman, a young journalist who was also a daughter, a sister and a partner. “This is a dark day.
“I want to make a direct appeal to the people who know who carried out this murder, to the people who know those who goaded young people to put their lives and futures on the line, the people prepared to bring murder and mayhem on to the streets.
“You need to do the right thing. You have to help make this madness stop. Please, pick up the phone and make a difference.”
Trouble broke out in the Creggan area of Derry following PSNI searches on Thursday night.
Police were attacked with petrol bombs and vehicles hijacked and set on fire.
As the rioting continued, a gunman opened fire towards officers, hitting Ms Mckee.
She was lifted into a police Land Rover and rushed to the city’s Altnagelvin Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
As he comforted Ms Mckee’s partner Sara Canning and family, Fr Joseph Gormley accused the killer of forcing their viewpoint on others using the barrel of a gun.
He added: “Have you no sense of humanity or dignity about yourself ?” Councillor John Boyle, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, proclaimed “an extremely sad day for the citizens of this city”.
He said: “This dreadful murder was heinous in the extreme and threatened the lives of many. “I just want to reflect on the fact I personally knew Lyra Mckee. I have known her since she was 16 years old. “She was bright, she was warm, she was witty but, most of all, she was an outstanding individual, a great friend to so, so many people in the short time she was with us. We are broken-hearted for her family at their loss and, again, I want to extend our very deepest sympathies to them.
“There’s an awful lot of anger today. It has to be said again, this was not done in the name of the people of this city. Those responsible need to understand that.
“The people of Creggan absolutely abhor what happened last night. Lyra was one of us.”
As politicians from all parties gathered at a vigil in the area yesterday, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: “Those responsible need to be made to realise their fight is not with the PSNI or with young journalists.
“Their fight is with all of us, the people of Ireland. And it is a fight they will never win.”
The DUP’S Arlene Foster was warmly welcomed as she visited the nationalist Creggan for the first time.
She told those gathered: “I came to stand in solidarity with all of the people who are here today.
“I want to say your pain is my pain. It doesn’t matter whether you are Catholic or Protestant, whether you identify as Irish or British.”
Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O’neill said: “It is a human tragedy for her family but also an attack on all the people of this community, an attack on our peace process and an attack on the Good Friday Agreement.”
Party chief Mary Lou Mcdonald also hit out at those responsible. She
Those who carried this out do not share our values. We reject them
LEO VARADKAR DUBLIN YESTERDAY
said: “You bring nothing, only heartache, disruption and pain. You have nothing to offer.”
The Taoiseach joined in condemnation yesterday, saying: “We must not let hate drag us back to the past.”
Leo Varadkar added: “There is no place nor any justification for political violence in Ireland or Northern Ireland today.
“Those who carried it out do not share the values of our nation, nor our Republic. We reject them.
“And so this was an attack not just on one citizen, it was an attack on all of us, our nation and our freedoms.” Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin branded the attackers terrorists.
He said: “The PSNI have worked hard to engage with communities across the political divide over the last decade. To see them under attack from terrorists, hell bent on causing violent upheaval, is horrific.
“These people will not be allowed to undermine peace through such acts of violence.”
And Labour’s Brendan Howlin called the attack “a shocking and reckless act”, adding: “We are now seeing the real and threatening impact of the fallout from the chaotic Brexit process and the lack of political structures in Northern Ireland for far too long.”
President Michael D Higgins signed a book of condolence for Ms Mckee in Belfast City Hall.
He noted the young journalist was a woman of talent and commitment, shot exercising her profession.
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi was also in the North yesterday.
She said: “Sadly we join you on the sadness, the tragedy that happened last night. We extend our condolences to the family. Coming on Good Friday, it is especially poignant.”