Three individuals have been acquitted of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in 2019. McKee, aged 29, was fatally shot while observing disturbances in the Creggan area of Londonderry on April 18, 2019. The incident involved the throwing of petrol bombs at police and the setting of a car ablaze, leading to the firing of four shots toward officers. The New IRA claimed responsibility for the killing.
The trial, overseen by Mrs. Justice Smyth without a jury, commenced in May 2024 at Belfast Crown Court. The accused, Paul McIntyre, Peter Cavanagh, and Jordan Gareth Devine, faced a joint enterprise murder charge. Despite not being directly linked to the fatal shot, the prosecution alleged that the trio accompanied the gunman and supported his actions.
The defense criticized the circumstantial nature of the evidence, labeling it as speculative. Following the verdict on Friday, all three defendants were acquitted of McKee’s murder. The outcome left McKee’s family feeling that the justice system had let them and Lyra down, with her sister expressing shock and disappointment. She emphasized their commitment to seeking justice for McKee.
In her remarks, Justice Smyth described McKee’s murder as a senseless act of violence and acknowledged the family’s ordeal during the trial. Reporters Without Borders urged authorities to continue pursuing accountability for McKee’s death, emphasizing the importance of holding perpetrators responsible to ensure press freedom and safety.
