Man, 52, charged with murder of journalist Lyra Mckee during Londonderry riots

A MAN has been charged with the murder of journalist Lyra Mckee.

Ms Mckee, 29, was shot dead by dissident republicans while observing rioting in Londonderry in April. The New IRA said it carried out the killing.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: “Detectives from the PSNI’S Major Investigation Team have charged a 52-year-old man with the murder of 29-year-old journalist Lyra Mckee, who was shot dead by terrorists in Derry/londonderry on 18 April 2019. The man, from the city, who was arrested by detectives yesterday… is also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation.”

He will appear at Londonderry magistrates’ court today. Ms Mckee was standing near a police vehicle when she was hit by a bullet fired by a masked gunman towards officers.

Det Supt Jason Murphy said: “I have always said a number of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night Lyra was killed, and while today is significant for the investigation, the quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing.”

The Belfast writer and gay rights activist was an articulate advocate of a new and more tolerant Northern Ireland and part of the generation which reached adulthood during peace time. Her funeral was attended by Theresa

May, the then UK prime minister, Leo Varadkar, the Irish Taoiseach, and Michael D Higgins, the Irish president, at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.

Catholic priest Fr Martin Magill received a standing ovation when he asked why it took Ms Mckee’s death to unite politicians.