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Shock and outrage as journalist
murdered in Derry
19.04.19
A book of condolence
will open in Derry's Guildhall this afternoon in
memory of journalist Lyra McKee who was shot dead in
the city last night.
The PSNI has launched a murder investigation
following the brutal killing of the 29 year old
reporter as she covered rioting in the Fanad Drive
area of Creggan.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said: “A
single gunman fired shots in a residential area of
the city and as a result wounded Ms McKee. Officers
quickly administered first aid before transporting
her in the back of a landrover to hospital.
Tragically she died from her injuries. At this stage
we believe her murder was carried out by a violent
dissident republican."
There has been widespread shock and outrage at the
death of Belfast-born Ms McKee, who was a rising
star as an investigative journalist and a published
author. |
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Lyra McKee. |
She has been described
in an outpouring of tributes as a loyal and kind
friend and a clever and determined journalist.
President Michael D Higgins offered sympathies on
behalf of the Irish people to Ms McKee's family and
friends and described her as "a woman of talent and
commitment who was shot exercising her profession".
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar offered solidarity with the
people of Derry and the journalism community.
"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," Mr Varadkar said in a
tweet.
Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Ken
Good expressed outrage and said Ms McKee's needless
death was "not entirely unforeseeable".
"Only last January, after the bomb attack on the
city’s courthouse, I said that the perpetrators had
shown a callous disregard for people’s lives. On
that occasion a group of young people were lucky to
escape unscathed.
"Sadly, the outcome that I feared then – if such
reckless attacks were to continue – was realised
last night, and Lyra McKee, a talented young
journalist, paid the ultimate price," he said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Chief Constable Hamilton
appealed for witnesses to help in either identifying
the gunman and where he fled after the killing. |
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