{"id":1067171,"date":"2026-07-04T03:03:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T03:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1067171\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T03:03:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T03:03:29","slug":"lyra-mckee-family-slams-culture-of-silence-after-three-men-acquitted-of-murder-the-irish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1067171\/","title":{"rendered":"Lyra McKee family slams \u2018culture of silence\u2019 after three men acquitted of murder \u2013 The Irish News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The family of Lyra McKee said on Friday that \u201cno stone will be left unturned\u201d to get justice after three men were found not guilty of her murder.<\/p>\n

Nichola Corner, the sister of journalist Ms McKee, also called for an end to the \u201cculture of silence\u201d in Northern Ireland which meant people did not come forward with information about the killing.<\/p>\n

Ms McKee, 29, died after being hit by a bullet as she stood close to police vehicles while observing disturbances in the Creggan area of Derry<\/a> on April 18, 2019.<\/p>\n

Paul McIntyre, 58, of Kells Walk in Derry, Peter Cavanagh, 38, of Mary Street, and Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, of Bishop Street, faced a joint enterprise murder charge.<\/p>\n

\"Noah<\/a>\"Noah<\/a><\/p>\n

Judge Mrs Justice Smyth found all three not guilty of murder<\/a> in the long-running non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court on Friday due to insufficient evidence in the prosecution case against the men which was wholly circumstantial.<\/p>\n

Members of Ms McKee\u2019s family left the court after the non-guilty verdicts on the three murder charges were delivered.<\/p>\n

Speaking outside court, Ms Corner said: \u201cToday has come as a complete and utter shock to us as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cThe system has completely failed Lyra and has failed our family, and has failed Northern Ireland, to be perfectly honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Corner said: \u201cThere is also a situation which is ongoing in our country and has been for many years, and that people are afraid to speak out, they are afraid to tell the truth, they are afraid to share information that they have.<\/p>\n

\"LyraLyra McKee was shot dead in Derry in 2019 (PSNI\/PA) <\/p>\n

\u201cOver 150 people witnessed this event on the 18th of April 2019. Not one of those 150 people came forward with evidence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat culture of silence needs to stop in Northern Ireland, it is unfair to victims.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI\u2019ll tell you what will not happen, that we will not go down with this. This is not over. Lyra said, \u2018if you\u2019re going to go down, go down fighting\u2019, and I can tell you right now that every one of my family will, because we do this for Lyra. She deserves justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cThis started seven years, two months and two weeks ago, when people came out onto a street with a lethal weapon and fired at police, knowing that there were innocent people watching, knowing that there were innocent people outside homes, knowing that there were innocent people who could potentially be put into danger, that was when this began for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been having to carry that strength for a very long time, and our strength comes from the strength of heart, which our mother had and shared with us all.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat strength comes from our love for Lyra and our desire to ensure that she gets justice, and that no stone is left unturned to ensure that that happens, and I assure you that every stone will be checked.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the night Ms McKee was killed, several petrol bombs had been directed at police and a car was set on fire during chaotic scenes which culminated in four shots being fired towards officers.<\/p>\n

One of the shots hit Ms McKee. The New IRA claimed responsibility for the death of Ms McKee.<\/p>\n

Mrs Justice Smyth on Friday found that the shots were fired by the gunman with \u201cmurderous intent\u201d, and there was \u201cobvious intention\u201d to kill or seriously injure police, and an intention to launch a fatal attack as a \u201cfatal finale\u201d to the attack on police in order to \u201cguarantee the oxygen of publicity\u201d.<\/p>\n

She said while the intended target had been police, Ms McKee \u201cwas murdered\u201d.<\/p>\n

Earlier on Friday the three Derry men were acquitted of murdering Lyra McKee. In a lengthy judgement delivered at Belfast Crown Court, Mrs Justice Smyth found Peter Cavanagh, Jordan Devine and Paul McIntyre \u2018not guilty\u2019 of being secondary offenders in the murder of Ms McKee.<\/p>\n

The 29-year old died after being struck by a bullet fired at police Land Rovers parked in the Fanad Drive area of Creggan<\/a> during serious unrest on April 18, 2019.<\/p>\n

As her loved ones sat in the public gallery of a packed Court 12, Mrs Justice Smyth delivered her lengthy judgement – and after the three men accused of murder were cleared of the charge, Lyra\u2019s family and friends walked out of the courtroom.<\/p>\n

A total of ten defendants were initially charged with offences<\/a> arising from street disorder in Creggan on April 16, 2019 and of involvement in the riot two days later that claimed Lyra\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Over 50 charges were levelled at the accused, one of whom died during the non-jury trial which spanned a period of over two years.<\/p>\n

None of the accused gave evidence at their trial and ultimately, only two of the nine were convicted of any charges.<\/p>\n

Christopher Joseph Gillen, who is 45 and from Balbane Pass in Derry, was found guilty of charges of rioting and both possessing and throwing petrol bombs on April 18, 2019.<\/p>\n

Gillen was acquitted of stealing a Ford Transit tipper truck and of an arson attack on the vehicle on April 18 and of three petrol bomb offences on April 16.<\/p>\n

Following his conviction, Gillen\u2019s barrister said his client had been on bail since October 2019 \u201cwithout issue\u201d and asked that he be released on continuing bail ahead of his sentencing in September.<\/p>\n

This request was rejected by the Judge who remanded Gillen into custody.<\/p>\n

Also convicted on a charge of common assault was 57-year old Kieran George McCool, from Ballygowan Garden.<\/p>\n

Whilst he was acquitted on a charge of rioting due to \u201cinsufficient\u201d evidence, he was found guilty of assaulting a local community worker who, on the evening of the riot, tried to intervene.<\/p>\n

He attended Friday\u2019s hearing via a videolink and his barrister was told that he was required to attend court for his sentencing in September<\/p>\n

After she returned verdicts on all 52 charges and in the absence of Lyra\u2019s loved ones who had already left the court, Mrs Justice Smyth said: \u201cLyra McKee was murdered in an act of senseless violence. The gunman has never been brought before any court and the evidence against those suspected of assisting or encouraging him has fallen short of that required for conviction.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish to acknowledge the family and friends of Lyra who have endured a length and protracted trial which has brought little if any comfort or relief and I regret that.\u201d<\/p>\n

In her judgement, Mrs Justice Smyth said the prosecution\u2019s case against the accused was \u201cwholly circumstantial\u201d and replied heavily on imagery analysis evidence.<\/p>\n

Regarding the murder charge against Devine (25) from Bishop Street, Peter Cavanagh (38) from Mary Street and 58-year Paul McIntyre from Kells Walk, this was on the grounds they encouraged or assisted the shooter.<\/p>\n

Mrs Justice Smyth concluded there was \u201cinsufficient evidence\u201d to establish \u201cbeyond reasonable doubt\u201d that Cavanagh had been \u201ccorrectly identified\u201d as one the masked men who assisted the gunman and said \u201cI find him not guilty of murder\u201d.<\/p>\n

Regarding Devine and McIntyre, the Judge concluded that the \u201cpoor quality\u201d mobile phone footage of the shooting did not allow reliable identification of masked men \u201cbeyond reasonable doubt\u201d.<\/p>\n

As a result, both men were acquitted of murder.<\/p>\n

In addition Devine, Cavanagh and McIntyre were acquitted of other charges including possessing a firearm and ammunition, rioting and both possessing and throwing petrol bombs.<\/p>\n

Mrs Justice Smyth also acquitted three \u2018unmasked men\u2019 who were present at the riot.<\/p>\n

Joseph Patrick Barr (38) from Sandringham Drive, 28-year old Jude Forest McCrory (28) from Gartan Square and Patrick Anthony Gallagher (34) from John Field Place were all acquitted on charges of rioting and throwing petrol bombs.<\/p>\n

It was the Crown\u2019s case that they intentionally assisted or encouraged the masked men to carry out the offences during the riot.<\/p>\n

In her judgement, Mrs Justice Smyth said the evidence against McCrory and Gallagher was \u201cinsufficient to prove guilt of the criminal charge and I therefore find both defendants not guilty of all charges\u201d.<\/p>\n

Regarding Barr, the Judge said the evidence against him \u201cfalls short of that required to convict Barr of the offences and I find him not guilty of the offences charged\u201d.<\/p>\n

Also acquitted of three charges levelled against him was 25-year old Joseph Anthony Campbell from Gosheden Cottages.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe gun used in the murder of journalist Lyra McKee <\/p>\n

These acquittals, like the others, were on the ground of insufficient evidence.<\/p>\n

At the conclusion of the judgement, Gillen shook hands with the other men in the dock before he was taken into custody.<\/p>\n

The other seven men were released from the dock by Mrs Justice Smyth, who said she would sentence Gillen and McCool on September 25.<\/p>\n

Following the judgement, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Michael Agnew, said: \u201cLyra McKee\u2019s life was taken in a reckless act of violence, leaving her family and friends with enduring grief and pain, and causing shock in the wider community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a very complex and challenging case which drew from multiple strands of evidence, including detailed analysis of video footage, mobile phone material, and forensic evidence. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe PPS worked closely with PSNI to build the case, which was prosecuted properly and at its height. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe decision to prosecute is based on a legal test that is different from the test a court applies when deciding guilt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are satisfied that our legal test for prosecution was met and that it was in the public interest to bring the case. The case successfully overcame a number of robust legal challenges during the proceedings. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognise that today\u2019s acquittals will be deeply disappointing to Lyra\u2019s family and loved ones. Our thoughts are foremost with them as they continue to endure the profound loss caused by her murder.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The family of Lyra McKee said on Friday that \u201cno stone will be left unturned\u201d to get justice…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1067172,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5011],"tags":[188,16767,292710,292711,259125,1144,16,15],"class_list":["post-1067171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-northern-ireland","tag-crime","tag-derry","tag-dissident","tag-lyra-mckee","tag-new-ira","tag-northern-ireland","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116859491554123142","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1067171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1067171"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1067171\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1067172"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1067171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1067171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1067171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}