Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Lyra McKee Brendan Gallagher

Lyra McKee: A determined journalist who told the stories of marginalised people and her country’s troubled past

Lyra’s work covered topics to do with the legacy of the Troubles, the fight for LGBT equality, and her own life.

LYRA MCKEE – WHO was shot dead last night during riots in Derry – was a Northern Ireland journalist dedicated to covering the topics and telling the stories of marginalised people and her country’s troubled past. 

Growing up off the Antrim Road in north Belfast, a stretch known as the Murder Mile because of the number of killings that took place there during the Troubles, Lyra wrote about her experiences coming of age in a city post-conflict, but one which still held onto the trauma of the past. 

In a piece for The Atlantic - Suicide Among the Ceasefire Babies – she wrote about the lives of her and her friends and the sharp increases in suicides in Northern Ireland over the last two decades. 

Lyra was just eight years old when the Good Friday Agreement was signed on 10 April 1998 and the guns finally fell silent in the North. She and her friends were part of the generation that became known as The Ceasefire Babies – the people too young to remember the worst of the conflict. 

In Lyra’s words: 

We were the Good Friday Agreement generation, spared from the horrors of war. But still, the aftereffects of those horrors seemed to follow us. 

Her piece goes on to discuss the effects that conflict can have on the children too young that have experienced the worst of wars, but who are exposed nonetheless to its traumas. 

She talks about suicide and attempted suicide in her friends, and about a generation trying to come to terms with their country’s tragic past. 

“But the problem hasn’t gone away, and there are plenty more friends and acquaintances who never made it into adulthood.

If I count their names on my fingers, I run out of digits. The tragic irony of life in Northern Ireland today is that peace seems to have claimed more lives than war ever did. 

Telling the stories that matter

Telling the stories of forgotten people, or those on the margins, is a recurring theme found in Lyra’s journalism. Often telling these stories brought her close to Northern Ireland’s troubled history. 

Her first book – Angels with Blue Faces – is due out this year, and deals with a cold case murder of a Northern Ireland MP during the height of the Troubles. 

She had recently signed a two-book deal with publisher Faber. Her second book The Lost Boys was due to be published next year. 

The book explores the disappearances of a number of children and young men during The Troubles. From the publisher’s blurb:

Many of them were not believed to be victims of the IRA or the UVF.  Some were kids who left home for school and never came home and their disappearances were never solved by the police. McKee will investigate what happened to them.

Lyra said at the time that she was honoured to join the publisher. 

“I am also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to tell this story and to hopefully help find answers for families who desperately need them,” she said. 

The books seem set to follow the line of Lyra’s other work – telling the stories that others don’t. 

Her work has been published widely, with bylines appearing in The Atlantic, The Independent and various newspapers and magazines nationally and internationally. 

Among other topics, she has written about the families of people killed in the Troubles investigating the murders themselves; about suicide among the Ceasefire babies; about the legacy issues of her country’s past. 

She was also an editor for the US news media magazine Mediagazer.

In 2017, she gave a Ted Talk on the importance of changing religious teaching on LGBT people and how it will change lives. 

She won a Sky News Young Journalist Award in 2006 and in 2016 was named as one of Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30 in Europe Media. 

‘It’s going to be okay’

Lyra was gay and had recently moved from Belfast to Derry to live with her partner. 

At the time of her death, one of her best known articles was a deeply personal piece she wrote in 2014 - Letter to my 14 Year old Self - when she was 24 years old. 

The piece was a response to homophobic comments made by a Northern Irish pastor. It is a letter written to younger version of herself, consoling and comforting and letting her know it was going to be okay. 

A moving and powerful piece of writing, it was made into a short film by Stay Beautiful Films, and released in 2017, directed by Brian Mulholland and produced by Corinne Heaney – friends of Lyra’s.

StayBeautifulFilms1 / YouTube

The piece lays out compassionate guidance to young teenage Lyra, uncomfortable in her sexuality and unsure in her own skin. She guides her teenage self through the good and bad moments of her young life, reassuring her all the while that things will get better. 

From the piece:

“Three months before your 21st birthday, you will tell Mum the secret. You will be sobbing and shaking and she will be frightened because she doesn’t know what’s wrong.

“Christmas will be just a couple of weeks away. You have to tell her because you’ve met someone you like and you can’t live with the guilt anymore.

“You can’t get the words out so she says it: ‘Are you gay?’ And you will say, ‘Yes Mummy, I’m so sorry.’ And instead of getting mad, she will reply ‘Thank God you’re not pregnant’.

You will crawl into her lap, sobbing, as she holds you and tells you that you are her little girl and how could you ever think that anything would make her love you any less?   

Speaking to the Irish Times in 2017, Lyra spoke about the piece and the difficulties faced by young people coming out in conservative and religious households in Northern Ireland.

She called on the church to acknowledge the environment they had created in fostering hostile attitudes towards gay people throughout the years:

The church needs to acknowledge the legacy they have created. When people see scripture as a licence to violate and punish people… the bar is set much lower for the local thug who thinks he can kick my head in. The church needs to deal with that. 

 Finding her calling 

In the letter to her 14-year-old self Lyra also talks about her first experiences of journalism, and how at a young age she knew she had found her calling.

“In a year’s time, you’re going to join a scheme that trains people your age to be journalists. I know the careers teacher suggested that as an option and you said no, because it sounded boring and all you wanted to do was write, but go with it.

For the first time in your life, you will feel like you’re good at something useful. You’ll have found your calling. 

Lyra was shot dead last night during riots in the Creegan housing estate in Derry, in what police have labelled a terrorist incident. 

The PSNI says that a single gunman fired shots in a residential area of the city and as a result fatally wounded Lyra. 

Those who knew her, have described Lyra as a kind, funny, dedicated woman who was devoted to dragging Northern Ireland out of its dark past.

A candlelight vigil will be held in memory of Lyra this evening at Belfast City Hall. 

She is survived by her mother – who she cared for – her partner, her siblings and family and friends. 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
37 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute alan doyle
    Favourite alan doyle
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 12:55 PM

    Dreadfully sad. RIP.

    304
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank Lloyd wright
    Favourite Frank Lloyd wright
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:13 PM

    The Irish government need to engage further with the North.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
    Favourite Mairtin Antaine O Conaill
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:23 PM

    @Frank Lloyd wright: to be fair I think nothing short of Thanos clicking his fingers will sort the issue that is Northern Ireland. Very sad to see this young woman murdered by cowards pretending to be something that they will never be.

    120
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clifford Brennan
    Favourite Clifford Brennan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:25 PM

    @Frank Lloyd wright: The Northern Irish government need to address the vacuum they’ve created, and the middle ground they’ve help shrink. RIP Lyra.

    73
    See 9 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cal Mooney
    Favourite Cal Mooney
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:33 PM

    @Clifford Brennan: Its a bit hard to negotiate with a side that point blankly refuses to enact equality legislation. This journalist was an activist for the LGB community. The DUP have zero tolerance or respect for them. They refuse to allow them the same rights as others. The commenter above is right, in a vacuum where the brits refuse to bring in the necessary equality legislation, the Southern government needs to step up instead of procrastinating like they have done for the most part over the last 3 years.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Johnson
    Favourite John Johnson
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:34 PM

    @Frank Lloyd wright: the politicans in the North need to engage instead of always looking for someone else to sort out problems they are a part of, they are ridiculous on both sides. Sf response to the dup intransigence on certain issues of walking away from government shows utter cowardice.
    So highlight their intransigence on Irish language, lgbt etc but get on with running the North for the sake of health education infrastructure etc. Childish beyond belief and what makes me wonder about the people of the North is they continually vote for dup & Sf. Then they talk about wanting progress, ridiculous

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CrabaRev
    Favourite CrabaRev
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:54 PM

    @Cal Mooney: Sinn Féin are not going to get very far if they refuse point blank to engage with them. Sinn Féin sat for many years in the Dáil before same sex marriage was enacted here. They were one of the parties who campaigned for it. There is no reason they cannot do the same in Stormont

    Sinn Féin’s political strategy is to try to make Northern Ireland ungovernable by refusing to engage with any of its political institutions. It’s a dangerous and foolish strategy, that will send Northern Ireland and Ireland back to the dark times of the troubles.

    Its quite obvious from your posts that you are stuck in a very sad, century old mindset – “the brits” and the “Southern government”. I doubt very much whether you have much concern for equality legislation.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cal Mooney
    Favourite Cal Mooney
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 2:02 PM

    @CrabaRev: So your tears for this murder victim are crocodile tears. You are suggesting dropping equal rights for the LGBT community as it is not that important.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mjhint
    Favourite Mjhint
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 2:16 PM

    @CrabaRev: to be fair to SF an organisation i have huge problems with if the dup wont accept rights for women or the lgbt community its very hard to get around that but equally i think its high time the vacuum in the North was filled with noises of effort tl get stormont up & running again. All that is happening is that these toe rags are getting traction because of lack of political engagement and include SF in my criticism. Peolle should remember what we have had since 1998. It’s not perfect its vulnerable but its a beautiful thing to wake up to no one being killed. That ended last night.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CrabaRev
    Favourite CrabaRev
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 2:23 PM

    @Cal Mooney:

    You are beneath contempt. I said or implied nothing of the sort.

    You have no arguments. Your only response is to lie and libel constantly. It appears to be a sickness with you. You are a truly a despicable individual supporting a despicable movement.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CrabaRev
    Favourite CrabaRev
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 2:28 PM

    @Mjhint: Unfortunately, there are some who want what we had before 1998 back. There are plenty of other thing that Sinn Féin can work with DUP on, but they don’t want to.
    Sinn Féin do not want a functioning Northern Ireland as part of the UK. They will do everything they can to prevent it.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cal Mooney
    Favourite Cal Mooney
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 3:11 PM

    @CrabaRev: So you think SF should drop the demand for equal rights for the LGBT community? That really would be a travesty to the memory of the murdered journalist. Well done sir.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Moylan
    Favourite John Moylan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 9:18 PM

    @Frank Lloyd wright: the Northern Ireland Govt need to engage with the North you mean. This vacuum is entirely at the door of NI politicians.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Claffey
    Favourite Thomas Claffey
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:20 PM

    One of the good one’s shot by one of the bad one’s. she was the voice of the marginalised.the ones that where bullied for been themself, you shot the voice of hope for so many, the wee ones who where frightened to come out , and live the life as what they are. may my God forgive you.

    70
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Angie
    Favourite Angie
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:07 PM

    RIP Lyra you poor girl .My thoughts and prayers are with all your family . I hope you get justice

    122
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jack Creegan
    Favourite Jack Creegan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:17 PM

    RIP Lyra.Take guns out of circulation.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Juan Fangio
    Favourite Juan Fangio
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:38 PM

    @Jack Creegan: Even more important to take the criminal thugs who use them out of circulation.

    73
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Coughlan
    Favourite Stephen Coughlan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:45 PM

    @Jack Creegan: Jesus

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Jordan
    Favourite Chris Jordan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:36 PM

    Deepest condolences to a fine journalist. However the headline is misleading, the north is not a “country”.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SFNutters
    Favourite SFNutters
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:41 PM

    @Chris Jordan: the article doesn’t day it is…Ireland is a country and I’d say she would have called herself Irish

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid Peavoy
    Favourite Diarmuid Peavoy
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 2:18 PM

    A very moving tribute. Thank you for it.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GO GREEN
    Favourite GO GREEN
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 2:13 PM

    Shame on the SF AND DUP pandering to boost their own tribal base in refusal to form a Govt for over 2 years whilst still getting paid, has opened the gates for the hard men to return. This woman should be alive today enjoying the Easter break, instead she is gone.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cal Mooney
    Favourite Cal Mooney
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 3:14 PM

    @GO GREEN: SF are fighting and demanding rights for the LGBT community as a red line for going back into government. Only a sick heartless person on learning of the murder if this journalist would suggest removing that red line.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute For Goodness Sake
    Favourite For Goodness Sake
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 9:11 PM

    @Cal Mooney: Don’t try to use her murder to justify SF policies. Its nothing to do with LGBT – its just murder!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Ryan
    Favourite Tom Ryan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 1:37 PM

    @@BAKKTX1:

    In fairness your earlier comments and maybe this one has blamed every one else but the people that pulled the trigger and killed that young woman may she rest in peace.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Caplis
    Favourite John Caplis
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 6:07 PM

    Very sad, I suppose a fitting tribute to Lyra would be for all the parties to begin restoring The Stormont Assembly immediately. Her generation should not be experiencing this. Perhaps in time a mural will be created to highlight her incredible bravery and work. However ideally she should be continuing with her profession and life. RIP to Lyra and condolences to her partner and family.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Farrell
    Favourite Mark Farrell
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 6:12 PM

    It is a sad reflection on life in this country when young people who are brave enough to speak out are still getting killed more than 20 years after the ceasefire.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kyle Mac Creddin
    Favourite Kyle Mac Creddin
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 2:20 PM

    The people who done this are not British, they are not Irish, they don’t know what they are. We do, they are gutless pr**ks.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike
    Favourite Mike
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 3:03 PM

    @Kyle Mac Creddin: Neither the UK nor ourselves want them. A pitiful hellhole.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Don Lavery
    Favourite Don Lavery
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 8:03 PM

    @Kyle Mac Creddin: Did.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ted Murray
    Favourite Ted Murray
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 8:35 PM

    The World is going backwards at an alarming rate. This kind of shighte shouldn’t be happening in the 21st Century.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Moorooka Mick
    Favourite Moorooka Mick
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 10:13 PM

    I was glad that Nancy Pelosi came out last week and said that the USA under the Democrats would not permit a Free Trade Deal with a post Brexit UK if in the process of Brexit that the Good Friday Agreement had been compromised.
    This Derry riot & high profile shooting death is worrying because it calls to question the effectiveness of the Good Friday Agreement and as such makes its prospective dilution via Brexit seem more justifiable in that there is still no NI peace.

    I guess there are some in NI who would like to see a return to violence before Brexit so
    that breaching the GFA is not a Brexit deal breaking issue.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ted hagan
    Favourite ted hagan
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 9:44 PM

    The statement put out by republican sympathisers of these murdering thugs was sickening in its awfulness. A feeble attempt at shifting the blame to the cops.
    I really hope these cowardly perpetrators get turned in.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Quirke
    Favourite Paul Quirke
    Report
    Apr 19th 2019, 9:37 PM
    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds