Lyra McKee murder trial opens

This is the photo that Lyra McKee supplied to Forbes magazine when it declared her one of its 30 under 30 in media in 2016.

Image © The estate of Lyra McKee

THE TRIAL of eight men accused in connection with the murder of freelance journalist Lyra McKee opened in Belfast on 30 May.

Peter Cavanagh (35), Jordan Gareth Devine (23) and Paul McIntyre (56), all from Derry, are on trial for murder. Charges against five others include riot and throwing a petrol bomb. Two others linked to similar offences were not in court.

On 16 April 2019 Lyra McKee was shot while covering rioting in Derry. Her 34th birthday would have been on 31 March 2024.

The Irish Times reports that the prosecution is not arguing that any of the three charged with murder fired the shot that killed Lyra. Rather, their actions "are demonstrative of their involvement in the joint enterprise to possess and fire the weapon with the requisite intent for murder".

Meanwhile, the bursary scheme in Lyra's memory continues. It supports people from underprivileged backgrounds, who aspire to become journalists or who are at the early stages of their journalism career, with training and mentoring. We await the announcement of the successful applicants for the 2024 bursaries.

© Mike Holderness

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‘It was a horrifying scream’: Lyra McKee trial hears of circumstances around death Irish Times 05/06/24

RIP Lyra McKee April 2019