Priest calls on politicians to unite in Lyra Mckee’s funeral eulogy

● May joins Varadkar to pay respects to journalist killed in Londonderry riots

A priest has asked Northern Ireland’s politicians why it took the death of a 29-year-old woman to unite their parties.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May stood alongside her Irish counterpart, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, behind Lyra Mckee’s coffin yesterday. The journalist was shot dead by dissident republicans while observing rioting in Londonderry.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley has said she intends to hold discussions with Stormont’s party leaders this week in an effort to restore powersharing. They attended a vigil together in Londonderry following Ms Mckee’s death.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou Mcdonald was seated close to DUP chief Arlene Foster inside St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, during Ms Mckee’s funeral.

Powersharing in Northern Ireland has been suspended for more than two years in a row over identity issues.

Father Martin Magill said: “Why does it take the death of a 29-year-old woman with her whole life in front of her to get to this point?”

Ms Mckee was killed by indiscriminate gunfire as she observed clashes between police and New IRA dissidents on the Creggan estate in Londonderry on 18 April.

The reporter was non-sectarian.

Just hours before she was murdered she revealed to a close friend plans to propose to her partner Sara Canning and get married in Donegal in 2022. Same-sex marriage is currently outlawed in Northern Ireland. Stephen Lusty said: “She showed me pictures of the ring she had bought for Sara and told me of the fabulous plans she had for her proposal in May.”

The service of thanksgiving was held in the Church of Ireland cathedral, a short distance from the north Belfast home where Ms Mckee grew up.

The journalist’s sister also urged politicians to get back to work and create a society where labels become meaningless.

Ms Mckee broke down barriers in a divided community in Northern Ireland, mourners were told.

She relished difference and embodied an alternative vision of a Northern Ireland at peace, a friend told the thanksgiving service in Belfast.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, president of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney were also among those who attended.

Ms Mckee’s sister Nichola Corner said she was the kindest and most gentle person the world will never forget.

Ms Corner said: “We can create a society where labels are meaningless.”

She added every single per

FATHER MARTIN MAGILL son should get the chance to grow up and make their dreams come true.

“This is Lyra’s legacy and we must carry it forward. This is the gift that God gave the world on the 31st of March 1990.

“We are all responsible for helping God’s will to be fulfilled, each and every one of us.”

She also paid tribute to her sister’s bond with her mother, saying: “Whilst a broken heart can never be mended and an empty space can never be filled, the unconditional love that they both shared for each other will continue for eternity.”

Mr Lusty said Ms Mckee embodied a future of finding commonality, enjoying difference in others.

They had been robbed of a talent destined to become a stateswoman, with only holes left behind, he said.

He said Ms Mckee’s lasting legacy should be peace.

“We have two choices, we can look into the holes and wait forever... or we can fill those holes today.

“Today we grieve but tomorrow let us fill that hole by Lyra Mckee’s funeral was attended by Theresa May and Leo Varadkar, far left; Mckee’s cousin, Danielle Mclachlan and her partner attend a vigil at Buchanan Street in Glasgow

adopting Lyra’s future and vision.”

Cathedral Dean Stephen Forde said: “Lyra was a person who broke down barriers and reached across boundaries. This was her hallmark in life, this is her legacy in death.”

Today should mark a new beginning for Northern Ireland, Fr Magill told mourners.

Catholic priest Fr Magill said: “I dare to hope that Lyra’s murder on Holy Thursday night can be the doorway to a new beginning.”

“Why does it take the death of a 29-year-old woman with her whole life in front of her to get to this point?”