Three men found not guilty of murdering Lyra McKee
Three men have been found not guilty of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry in 2019.
Narrative Synthesis
Neutral news article compiled by integrating coverage details from all reporting stations.
Three men have been found not guilty of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry in 2019, a verdict that her family described as a complete and utter shock and a failure of the justice system.
Lyra McKee, 29, was shot dead on 18 April 2019 while observing rioting in the Cregan area of Londonderry. The dissident Republican group, the New IRA, claimed responsibility, saying it had been targeting police. The gunman has never been identified.
The trial at Belfast Crown Court began in May 2024 and lasted nearly two years, one of the longest in recent times. The three defendants, Jordan Devine, 25, Peter Kavanagh, 38, and Paul McIntyre, 58, all from Derry, were charged with murder on a joint enterprise basis. Prosecutors alleged they had assisted or encouraged the lone gunman, including by picking up spent bullet casings after the shooting. However, the judge ruled that the identification evidence linking the men to the masked figures seen that night was not strong enough to convict. All three were acquitted.
Outside court, Lyra’s sister Nichola McKee said the system had completely failed her sister, her family and Northern Ireland. She called for an end to the “culture of silence” that she said had protected those responsible, noting that more than 150 people witnessed the events but none had come forward with evidence.
Lyra’s former partner, Sarah Canning, told Channel 4 News that she knew the name of the gunman but would not take the law into her own hands. She described the two-year trial as “hellish” and said she had to relive the trauma repeatedly.
The case also involved six other men charged with rioting and throwing petrol bombs on the night of the killing. Of the 52 charges against all nine defendants, there were four convictions, including one for assault and one for riotous behaviour.
Lyra McKee was an award-winning investigative journalist and an LGBT rights campaigner. Her death prompted widespread condemnation and brought together political leaders from both sides of the Irish border at her funeral. A mural in Belfast commemorates her work. The judge in the case said she was murdered in an act of senseless violence and that the outcome would give little comfort to her family.
On screen
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Key Claims
Factual or political claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three men, Paul McIntyre, Peter Kavanagh, and Jordan Devine, were acquitted of Lyra McKee's murder. | ||||
| Six other men from Derry were charged with rioting and throwing petrol bombs. | · | |||
| The gunman who killed Lyra McKee has never been identified. | · | |||
| The New IRA, a dissident republican group, claimed responsibility for the killing. | · | |||
| Lyra McKee's former partner Sarah Canning said she knows the gunman's name. | · | · | · | |
| Of 52 charges against nine defendants, only four resulted in convictions. | · | · | · | |
| One man was found guilty of assault and another of riotous behaviour. | · | · | · | |
| Over 150 people witnessed the shooting but none came forward with evidence. | · | · | · | |
| The pistol used to kill McKee was found in 2020, and Niall Sheeran was jailed for possessing it in 2022. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
Editorial focus, emphasis angles, and key quotes from each reporting news station.
The report focused on the emotional reaction of Lyra's family and her legacy as a journalist and LGBT campaigner. It highlighted the mystery still surrounding her death and included a segment on the gunman never being identified. The tone was somber and personal, with a strong emphasis on the family's determination to continue fighting.
- “This is not over. Lyra said, if you're gonna go down, go down fighting.”
- “the truth about who killed her has still not been established.”
The report stressed the shock of the verdict to the family and the length of the trial. It included the judge's comment that the outcome would give little comfort and featured a priest's reflection on Lyra's lost potential. The tone was measured and focused on the broader impact on the community in Derry.
- “Today has come as a complete and utter shock to us as a family.”
- “the judge said Lyra McKee was murdered in an act of senseless violence.”
The report emphasised the family's vow to continue their fight for justice and the 'culture of silence' protecting those responsible. It focused on the lack of accountability and the ongoing wait for answers, with a clear editorial slant towards criticising the justice system's failure.
- “That system has completely failed Lyra and has failed our family and has failed Northern Ireland.”
- “the wait to find out who took her life goes on.”
The report provided the most detailed coverage, including an exclusive interview with Lyra's former partner Sarah Canning. It focused on the shortcomings of the evidence, the wall of silence, and the personal toll on those close to Lyra. The tone was investigative and empathetic, highlighting the gunman's known identity but lack of prosecution.
- “The evidence did not stand up to the level of scrutiny... that system has completely failed Lyra.”
- “I know his name... it is what it is.”
Bulletin Timeline
Chronological list of news reports tracked for this story.