Man arrested in connection with the murder of queer journalist Lyra McKee
A painted mural featuring murdered journalist Lyra McKee (PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images)
A man has been arrested by police investigating the murder of queer Northern Irish journalist Lyra McKee.
McKee was shot dead on the streets of Derry in April 2019 while reporting on unrest in the city, with dissident republican group the New IRA claiming responsibility for her death.
As an investigation into the death continues, police officers announced on Wednesday that a man has been arrested in connection with McKee’s death.
Fresh arrest connected to murder of Lyra McKee.
A statement from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “Detectives from PSNI’s Major Investigation Team, investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, have arrested a 27-year-old man in Derry/Londonderry this morning under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
“He has been taken to Musgrave police station in Belfast where he is currently being questioned.
“A search of a house in Derry/Londonderry has also been conducted.”
Lyra McKee was shot dead while observing riots in Derry.
In February, Paul McIntyre from Derry was charged with McKee’s murder, possession of a firearm and membership of a proscribed organisation, the IRA.
Three other men were arrested under the Terrorism Act in connection with the incident.
McIntyre denies the charges.
Murder of beloved journalist sent shockwaves through LGBT+ community.
The killing of McKee, an acclaimed journalist and strong supporter of LGBT+ rights, sent shockwaves throughout Northern Ireland and was met with an outpouring of grief in the queer community.
McKee was just 29 when she was shot, and had recently signed a two-book deal with Faber & Faber.
She had been planning to propose to her partner Sara Canning on an upcoming trip to New York, but violence in Derry cut their time together short.
Robyn Peoples and Sharni Edwards, Northern Ireland’s first same-sex couple to be legally married, kiss as they pose in front of the Lyra McKee mural in February 2020 (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Since her death, Canning has gone go on to champion efforts to secure equal marriage in the region, expressing her joy in February when couples were allowed to wed for the first time.
