Three people were identified on Friday in the 2019 murder of Northern Irish journalist Lyra McKee.
McKee, 29, died while reporting on a clash between police and the Irish Republican Army splinter group the New IRA. These clashes took place in Londonderry, also known as Derry.
The prime ministers of Britain and Ireland and political leaders from Northern Ireland’s Protestant and Catholic communities attended his funeral. As a result of his death, politicians revived Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government, which had fallen in 2017.
What do we know about the decision?
Justice Patricia Smith of Belfast Crown Court said the verdict would bring “not the slightest comfort or relief” to McKee’s family, but said the circumstantial evidence was not sufficient for a conviction.
“The murder of Lyra McKee was an act of senseless violence,” Smith said. “The gunman was never brought to court and the evidence against those accused of aiding or abetting falls short of what is required for a conviction.”
Three men were charged as accomplices in the murder. They all pleaded innocent and no one was put to trial.
The New IRA opposes the Irish peace process and demands an end to British control over Northern Ireland. The New IRA said that one of its members had shot Mackie and the group apologized to his family, saying that he was shot inadvertently as he approached the police.
Mackie’s sister: N. Ireland’s justice system ‘failed’ his family
Mackie’s sister Nicola Corner said after the verdict that the justice system had “completely failed” her family.
“Today comes as a complete shock to us as a family,” Corner said outside court. She said potentially 150 people had witnessed her sister’s death and said “the culture of silence in Northern Ireland needs to stop.”
The National Union of Journalists, of which McKee was a member, and Reporters Without Borders expressed their sympathies to McKee’s family and friends.
Felicity Garvey of Reporters Without Borders said, “Authorities must pursue all legal avenues to establish accountability and ensure that those responsible for Lyra’s death are brought to justice.” “Journalists cannot work safely if people who kill members of the press can do so with impunity.”
Edited by: Shawn Sinico
Don’t let algorithms hide news. If you rely on our team for reliable reporting, please take a moment Click here to choose us as your preferred source on Google And press the “Star” or “Favorite” button, so you always see our verified news first.