Man charged with murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Northern Ireland

Man, 52, is also accused of possessing a firearm and being a member of a proscribed organisation

(FILES) In this file photo taken on May 19, 2017 A handout picture released by Jess Lowe Photography on April 19, 2019 and taken on May 19, 2017 shows journalist and author Lyra McKee posing for a photograph in Belfast. Four men were arrested under the Terrorism Act in Northern Ireland on February 11, 2019, in connection with the death of journalist Lyra McKee in 2019, police said. The men, aged 20, 27, 29 and 52, were detained in Londonderry and were being held in Belfast after the 29-year-old was shot in the head during a night of rioting and petrol bombing. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / JESS LOWE PHOTOGRAPHY " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS / AFP / JESS LOWE PHOTOGRAPHY / Jess LOWE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / JESS LOWE PHOTOGRAPHY " - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Jamie Prentis
Feb 13, 2020

A 52-year-old man has been charged with the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Northern Ireland, who was shot dead last April in an attack claimed by the New IRA.

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The unnamed man, who was arrested on Tuesday, was also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and professing to be a member of a proscribed organisation.

He is set to appear at Derry Magistrates Court on February 13.

"I have always said a number of individuals were involved with the gunman on the night 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,” said Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy.

Ms McKee, 29, was killed covering riots on the Creggan housing estate in Derry. She had written extensively on the conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles.

Police have called on the public to come forward if they have information as they believe there could be further mobile phone footage of the night that could be used to piece together exactly what happened.

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