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12th Feb 2020

A 52-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Lyra McKee

Rebecca O'Keeffe

lyra mckee

The PSNI confirmed the news on Twitter this evening.

Last April, journalist Lyra McKee was murdered by a single gunman, thought to be a dissident republican.

Members of the PSNI started searches in the Creggan area of Derry after the incident, aimed at disrupting dissident republican activity.

The searches provoked rioting and more than 50 petrol bombs were thrown at the police. Two of their cars were hijacked and set alight.

At the time, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said:

“This murder demonstrates all too starkly that when terrorists bring violence and guns into the community, members of the public are placed in severe danger. It is abundantly clear that they do not care who they harm.”

“This is a horrendous act, it is unnecessary, it is uncalled for, it’s totally unjustified.”


“But not only is it a murder of a young woman, it is an attack again on the people of this city.”

And now, a man has been charged with the murder of the late journalist.

The PSNI released a statement earlier this evening, confirming that a 52-year-old man had been charged.

Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said in the statement:

“I have always said a number of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night that Lyra was killed, and while today is significant for the investigation, the quest for the evidence to bring the gunman to justice remains active and ongoing.”