Dissidents blamed after journalist shot dead in Londonderry
29 year old Lyra McKee was fatally shot in Londonderry during riots
Last updated 19th Apr 2019
The dissident republican group the New IRA was probably responsible for shooting dead a journalist in Northern Ireland, police have said.
Lyra McKee, 29, was shot in the head in what police are treating as a "terrorist incident'', amid disturbances in Londonderry on Thursday evening, and died later in hospital.
Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were carrying out a search operation in the Creggan area of Derry aimed at disrupting dissident republicans ahead of this weekend's commemoration of Irish independence, when a situation developed during which more than 50 petrol bombs were thrown at officers and two cars were hijacked and set on fire.
During the unrest a gunman fired a number of shots at police, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said.
He said: "Lyra McKee, 29 years old, was wounded. She was taken away in a police Land Rover to Altnagelvin Hospital but unfortunately she has died there.
"We have now launched a murder inquiry here in the city.
"We believe this to be a terrorist act, we believe it has been carried out by violent dissident republicans, our assessment at this time is that the New IRA are most likely to be the ones behind this and that forms our primary line of inquiry.
"This is a horrendous act, it is unnecessary, it is uncalled for, it is totally unjustified.''
It is understood Ms McKee had recently moved to Derry to live with her partner.
She worked as an editor for California-based news site Mediagazer, a trade publication covering the media industry.
In 2016, Forbes Magazine named her one of their 30 under 30 in media. She had been working on a new book which had been due to be published in 2020.
Mr Hamilton offered his "deepest sympathies'' to Ms McKee's family.
And he said: "But not only is it a murder of a young woman, it is an attack again on the people of this city.
"I stood here in January and we talked about the bomb and the act of violence against this city, and yet again we see another act of violence in this city which has had horrendous consequences and which will affect people for many, many years.
"I would appeal to people, particularly this Easter weekend, to stay calm, I would appeal to people who are intent on violence to draw back, I would appeal to people with influence to use your influence and make sure this is peaceful weekend. Not only this weekend but going forward in this city.
"These acts of violence are bringing nothing to this city, all they are doing is bringing misery to one family, but also particularly to this city and also to our broader province.''
Journalist Leona O'Neill described hearing gunfire and seeing a woman lying on the ground.
"I have been a journalist for 20-odd years and I know the distinguishable sound of the 'pop-pop-pop' of a gun and when I heard that I took cover behind a wall,''
"But, directly in my line of sight, I saw there was a police Land Rover right in front of me and I saw a woman lying on the ground beside the police Land Rover just at one of the back wheels at the side of it.
"Her friends had realised what had happened - obviously they put two and two together, the pop of the gunfire and she was lying down on the ground - they started screaming that she had been shot.
"The gunfire was still going on, they tried to pull her over to safety to kind of where I was, where there was a bit of shelter.
"The police officers got out of their Land Rover and saw the extent of the injuries of this woman and put her into the back of their vehicle - I had in the meantime also phoned an ambulance and I was telling the ambulance people where we were located and for them to get here quickly - and the police put her in the back of the Land Rover and drove her at speed with sirens going and the lights going through the burning barricade to the hospital."
Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said: "I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the death of a woman in Londonderry last night.
"My thoughts and condolences are with her family at this time.
"Those responsible for last night's violence have nothing to offer anyone in Northern Ireland.
"Their intolerable actions are rejected by the overwhelming majority of people who want to build a peaceful and more prosperous future for everyone in Northern Ireland."
The New IRA, an amalgamation of dissident republican factions in Derry, has been blamed for a bombing in Bishop Street, Derry, in January.
TRIBUTES
Fellow journalists and writers have used social media to pay tribute to the young journalist.
Matthew Hughes said he had been left "devastated'' by the death of one of his closest friends.
"I just received the heartbreaking news that my friend @LyraMcKee was murdered tonight in a terrorist incident in Derry,'' he tweeted.
"She was one of my closest friends. She was my mentor. She was a groomswoman at my wedding. I can't imagine life without her, and yet now I must.''
Ann Travers, whose sister Mary was murdered by the IRA in 1984, said Ms McKee was a "kind, gentle, witty and stubborn soul''.
"I have just heard, that my lovely friend Lyra was murdered tonight in Derry. I just can't believe, that this witty, clever human being has been taken... Feel sick.''
Fellow journalist Peter McGuire said Ms McKee was a "gifted writer, a kind person and SO generous with her time and knowledge''.
"So young - horrific & heartbreaking news from Derry tonight,'' he tweeted.
Seamus Dooley, Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists, wrote: "Shocked by news that woman shot dead in Derry last night has been named locally as @NUJofficial Lyra McKee.
"We are shocked by killing of a journalist of courage, style and integrity. Sympathy to her partner, family and many friends.''
Lilly Dancyger, a New York-based editor at digital publication Narratively, said Ms McKee was "dedicated to covering the lasting trauma & violence of the Troubles''.
"Devastating to hear she was killed tonight by that same violence,'' she tweeted.
Ms Dancyger shared an article written by Ms McKee about the families of Troubles victims.
"I was Lyra's editor on this story, and it was an honour. Sharing her work now is all I can think to do,'' she said.