Three individuals have been acquitted of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in 2019. McKee, aged 29, was fatally shot while observing disturbances in Londonderry’s Creggan area on April 18, 2019. The incident involved the throwing of petrol bombs at police and the setting of a car on fire, leading to four shots being fired at officers.
The New IRA, a dissident republican paramilitary organization, claimed responsibility for the killing. The trial commenced in May 2024 at Belfast Crown Court without a jury, presided over by Mrs. Justice Smyth. The accused individuals, Paul McIntyre, Peter Cavanagh, and Jordan Gareth Devine, faced a joint enterprise murder charge, although none were directly accused of firing the fatal shot that took McKee’s life.
The prosecution alleged that the trio had accompanied an unidentified gunman on the night of the incident, providing support or encouragement. Defense lawyers criticized the case’s reliance on circumstantial evidence and speculation.
On Friday, all three defendants were cleared of McKee’s murder. The verdict was met with little reaction from the accused individuals. McKee’s family expressed disappointment, stating that the justice system had failed them and Lyra. Her sister, Nichola Corner, described the verdict as shocking and vowed to continue seeking justice for Lyra.
In her remarks, Justice Smyth labeled McKee’s murder as a senseless act of violence, noting the lack of evidence against those accused of aiding the perpetrator. Reporters Without Borders emphasized the need for accountability in McKee’s case to ensure press freedom and safety for journalists.