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.

Petrol bombs are thrown at police in Creggan, Derry, last night. Niall Carson/PA Wire

'They must be brought to justice': Leaders of NI parties issue joint statement condemning killing of Lyra McKee

In a rare unified statement, the six leaders said the attack was also an attack on the members of the Derry community.

THE LEADERS OF the six main parties in Northern Ireland have released a joint statement condemning the murder of Belfast journalist Lyra McKee in a shooting in Derry last night.

In a rare unified statement, the six leaders said the attack was also an attack on the members of the Derry community, and that the attackers had no support in Northern Ireland and should disband immediately. 

McKee died from injuries she sustained from the shooting last night during riots in the Creggan area of Derry.

The PSNI has labelled the killing as a terrorist attack and suggest it is linked to dissident Republican activity in the area.

The statement today was released by Michelle O’Neill (Sinn Féin), Arlene Foster (DUP), Robin Swan (UUP), Colum Eastwood (SDLP), Naomi Long (Alliance) and Clare Bailey (Green Party).

“We want to express our condemnation in the strongest terms possible at the murder of journalist Lyra McKee,” the leaders said.

“The murder of Lyra McKee is first and foremost a devastating loss for her grieving partner, family and friends, and our thoughts are with them at this awful time.

“Lyra’s murder was also an attack on all the people of this community, an attack on the peace and democratic processes.

“It was a pointless and futile act to destroy the progress made over the last 20 years, which has the overwhelming support of people everywhere.

“We are united in rejecting those responsible for this heinous crime. They have no support in the community, must be brought to justice and should disband immediately.

We reiterate our support for the PSNI, who while carrying out their duties were also the target of last night’s attack. We call on anyone with any information to bring that forward to the police and assist their inquiries.

“This is a time for calm heads.”

Political condemnation 

The killing of Lyra – who covered events linked to legacy of the Troubles and had recently relocated to Derry from Belfast – has sparked widespread condemnation across the political divide. 

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar extended his condolences to Lyra’s partner, family and friends and said that she had “changed our lives as she lived and will do so again in death”. 

“Twenty-one years ago today, on Good Friday, we as a people, North and South, chose peace, power-sharing and ever-closer co-operation. We will not be dragged back into the past.

There is no place nor any justification for political violence in Ireland, or Northern Ireland today.

He called the killing an act of “fear”, “hate” and “cowardice” and said the people who carried it out do not share the values of “our nation, nor our Republic”.

“I want to express my solidarity with the people of Derry today. We stand with you as strong as your walls, and for as long as they stand. I want to acknowledge the work and the bravery of the PSNI and the emergency services,” he said.

His sentiments were echoed by the other party leaders. 

PSNI update 

In its latest update, the PSNI said that Lyra’s killer “and those who share his warped ideology should hang their heads in shame today – they represent no one”.

“Lyra’s murder has appalled not just people across this city, but people around the world and there has been a global wave of shock and sympathy from her colleagues in journalism, politicians, church and community leaders,” said Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin.

Today is Good Friday and it’s a cruel twist in our history that 21 years ago the majority of people in Northern Ireland signed up to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement yet here we are today mourning the loss of a talented young woman, a young journalist who was also a daughter, a sister and a partner.

Police officers dealt with significant riots in Creggan last night, with people throwing petrol bombs, hijacking vehicles and setting them alright and causing serious damage. 

Martin said the people behind the riots had one aim: “they set out to kill and take the life of a police officer”.

“We have now launched a murder investigation to find the gunman who murdered Lyra and bring those responsible for the orchestrated violence that has been shown on television screens around the world to justice,” he said.

And this is where now, more than ever, we need the public to help us.

Martin called on the people who know those who set out to cause the riots and the killing to come forward.

“You have to help make this madness stop. Please, pick up the phone and make a difference,” he said. 

He appealed for calm coming into the Easter weekend and asked for people to do what they could to stop the violence.  

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
44 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 FlopFlipU
    Favourite FlopFlipU
    Report
    Apr 9th 2021, 7:59 AM

    My goodness that is amazing how far medicine has gone

    147
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BatMon
    Favourite BatMon
    Report
    Apr 9th 2021, 8:17 AM

    @FlopFlipU: on the flip side, it could have been a flop

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Juniper
    Favourite Juniper
    Report
    Apr 9th 2021, 11:48 AM

    @BatMon: There’s still time. To be realistic, its very unlikely that her husband was a perfectly compatible tissue match, so she will need major anti-rejection meds… and as any transplant patient would tell you, with that comes the delicate balance of preventing rejection, versus infection

    8
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Flavin
    Favourite Brian Flavin
    Report
    Apr 9th 2021, 6:02 PM

    @FlopFlipU: well done fantastic doctors save live patient new lungs donation, covid destroy his old lungs

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Biscuits Patinkin
    Favourite Biscuits Patinkin
    Report
    Apr 9th 2021, 10:04 PM

    @Brian Flavin: true and that’s also a good alternative headline Brian! :)

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Neil Neart
    Favourite Neil Neart
    Report
    Apr 9th 2021, 9:20 AM

    Outstanding story. I wonder if stem cells could have been used, but then again they would need weeks to become lung tissue.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Ó Cofaigh
    Favourite Niall Ó Cofaigh
    Report
    Apr 9th 2021, 12:27 PM

    @Neil Neart: loads Is stem cell research as the solution to covid lung damage is the same as that for COPD and it has been ongoing for many years. However, there are clinics in the USA using blood stem cells which are not effective (and I believe were taken to task by US regulators for their advertising standards). In China they are looking at lung stem cells. I read that some trials show that lung tissue can be generated this way. However there is still many years to go and, from reading about the covid and COPD lung damage and trials and tests it could be a few years yet. Hopefully this will speed up as lungs so not repair damage and do not currently regenerate.

    6
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
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds