[Cherie]

The New IRA has admitted that it was responsible for journalist Lyra McKee’s death last Thursday.

Lyra, 29, was shot dead in Derry while she was covering the riots, which took place in Creggan.

There was a huge backlash against those responsible for her death as Ms McKee’s friends staged a protest yesterday.

Following glowing praise of the deceased journalist, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also condemned republican group Saoradh for their March through Dublin on Saturday.

It is now completely clear that the New IRA are responsible for the death of Ms McKee, but the organisation said that she was shot by members who were trying to shoot at police.


According to RTE, the group’s statement read: ‘On Thursday night following an incursion on the Creggan by heavily armed British crown forces which provoked rioting, the IRA deployed our volunteers to engage.


‘We have instructed our volunteers to take the utmost care in future when engaging the enemy, and put in place measures to help ensure this.

‘In the course of attacking the enemy Lyra McKee was tragically killed while standing beside enemy forces

‘The IRA offer our full and sincere apologies to the partner, family and friends of Lyra McKee for her death.’

The New IRA is understood to have been comprised of the Real IRA and a number of other smaller organisations which merged sometime between 2011 and 2012.

Police investigations into Lyra’s death are progressing, as the Police Service of Northern Ireland revealed that they have received information about her murder from 140 people so far.

I am sure that is of great comfort to them