Lyra is not here in person but her starlight fills this room. [6], McKee was the partner of Sara Canning, a nurse at Altnagelvin Area Hospital, and had moved to Derry to be with her. Lyra Catherine McKee (* 31. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. You could never fall out with Lyra in person, it was always online. More than once during those dark days she chatted with me through the night just to make sure that we both saw the sun rise. Speaking inside the 100-year-old St … She also served as an editor for Mediagazer, a news aggregator website. As her Uncle Stevie, I gave her an Easter egg. On 18 April 2019, McKee was fatally shot during rioting in the Creggan area of Derry. McKee, who was on Fanad Drive and standing near an armoured police Land Rover, was wounded in the head. Murdered investigative journalist 'tirelessly pursued the truth, "North Belfast student wins national award", "Tributes paid to former Birmingham student Lyra McKee shot dead in Derry", "Lyra McKee posthumously awarded masters degree", "Meet This Powerful Human News Curator: Lyra McKee from Belfast", "Commemorating Lyra McKee, our friend and colleague of 7½ years", "Lyra McKee on growing up gay in Belfast: 'I used to bargain with God not to send me to hell, "Lyra McKee: A rising star of investigative journalism", "Press Statement – REF: Death of journalist Lyra McKee", "Faber signs two from 'rising star' Lyra McKee", "Best of Irish: 10 rising stars of Irish writing", "Lyra McKee: Murdered journalist's 'dreams snuffed out, "Lyra McKee didn't die in the cause of Irish 'freedom'. Lyra Catherine McKee (/ˈlɪərə məˈkiː/[1] 31 March 1990 – 18 April 2019)[2] was a journalist from Northern Ireland who wrote for several publications about the consequences of the Troubles. Lyra was smart, kind, passionate, interesting, feisty, generous, funny, and above all else, truly compassionate. Our last words were a bit of a tradition. [20] It deals with the Provisional IRA killing of Belfast MP Robert Bradford. [14][15] At the time of her death, her second book, The Lost Boys, was scheduled for release by Faber in 2020,[22] but remained unfinished. A second vigil was held in Belfast City Hall, and was attended by author Anna Burns and John O'Doherty of the Rainbow Project, an LGBT rights charity in Northern Ireland. "[30] The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, said "the loss of a journalist at any time in any part of the world is an attack on truth itself. Father Martin Magill said dissident republican gunmen who killed the journalist should lay down their arms. It was the type of event that I only thought I would only find in a television drama, but no, it was very real and nobody’s fault but mine. It never lasted long though. "[30], Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, who had visited Derry only a few hours before the events, also condemned the murder. Published 26 April 2019. In an instant, an ideal lifestyle and a golden future were gone and I found myself in a pretty dark place. Friends of Lyra McKee, 29, cover HQ of New IRA-linked party with red paint in protest ahead of murdered journalist's funeral. März 1990 in Belfast; 18. Funeral of journalist Lyra McKee held in Belfast The funeral for murdered 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee is now taking place in Belfast this afternoon. Lyra McKee funeral: Murdered journalist was planning proposal A service celebrates the life of the 29-year-old, who was shot in the head while covering riots in Northern Ireland. Many of you would have watched her TED talk. ‘Was that dinner or the fading embers of an 11th night bonfire’, ‘Irish stew or lemon meringue pie?’ We could never tell. On the journey there she was nervous and spent the whole time scribbling notes on pieces of paper and calming herself by reacquainting me with the industrial language that I had not heard since I had left Holland & Wolfe shipyard. Lyra Mckee's coffin arrives for the funeral service in Belfast (Image: Getty Images) Read More Related Articles. However, by breakfast her adopted home had a new home. Sinead Kennedy shows off new pink hairstyle as she poses in rainbow dress, Cabinet to sign off today on extending lockdown until April 5, Brave dad left with brain injury after attack reveals family's ordeal, Geordie Shore's Bethan Kershaw strips down to bondage-inspired lingerie, Stephen Donnelly says it's not set in stone schools will reopen next week, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Floral tributes at the funeral of murdered journalist Lyra McKee at St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast. New Northern Ireland talks process to begin on May 7. [27] McKee's coffin was met with applause from the waiting public as it arrived at the cathedral. [49], Leona O’Neill, a fellow Derry journalist who witnessed and wrote about McKee's killing, later received online threats, alleging that she was responsible, or had invented her account of the shooting. A peaceful society where "every single person is valued" should be the "legacy" of murdered journalist Lyra McKee's life, her friends and family have demanded. Faber and Faber had compared the work to that of Anna Funder's Stasiland and Andy O'Hagan's The Missing. Speaking to mourners at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast, Stephen called for 'false starts' to be put aside and for 'an alternative Ulster' to be built. The next time I saw Brian he said, ‘What a star, but I would rather do ten rounds in a boxing ring with Paisley than do that again’. Several years ago my world was turned upside down. Her compassion always came with a spoonful of tough love, but she was always there for me. Published 27 April 2019. I always knew this but I didn’t quite understand the full extent of her love for fine dining until my accountant called me one day and said, ‘Stephen you own an IT company?’, ‘Yes’, ‘Can you please explain why your biggest expenditure is Nandos?’ followed by, ‘I have reviewed your expenses and I sincerely hope the name of L McKee can be cross-referenced to one of your best paying clients’. Lyra had the grace of Mary Robinson, the humility of President Higgins, the drive and fairness of Baroness Blood, the imagination of Tolkien, and the energy of Oprah Winfrey. For other inquiries Contact Us. One day, I took her to Limerick University to pitch for investment. [19][23] At the time of her death, McKee was researching unsolved killings during The Troubles in Northern Ireland of the late 20th century. As we hugged and said goodbye, Lyra looked radiant. [30] Police blamed dissident republicans for her death. With her friends there were two types of questions, ones she wanted answers to so she could make a decision and ones she was looking for answers for to support a decision she had already made. The disturbances were centred on Fanad Drive. The funeral service was attended by both UK and Irish political leaders, while her friends and family wore outfits recognising her favourite films. [37], British Prime Minister Theresa May called the murder "shocking and senseless", saying McKee "died doing her job with great courage". McKee, who was on Fanad Drive and standing near an armoure… [15] Among these were articles she wrote for Mosaic[16][17] (republished by The Atlantic), The Belfast Telegraph, Private Eye[18] and BuzzFeed News. [52] In early June 2020, the murder weapon, a Hämmerli X-Esse .22 LR pistol, was recovered by police from the Ballymagroarty area of Derry. The fact that I, a middle-class, middle-aged, protestant, heterosexual, British, male, engineer bares testament to that. [5] By the following year she joined Children's Express (shortly to be renamed Headliners),[6] a charity that supports young people through helping them develop journalism skills, and through that was awarded the Young Journalist Award by Sky News in 2006. Lyra’s passing has left many holes, journalism, technology, all the communities that she was part of, her friends, and above all her beloved family and Sara. LYRA had many friends drawn from all walks of life. The Catholic priest who criticised Northern Ireland's political leaders at the funeral of Lyra McKee has said he was reduced to tears after the service. Funeral of journalist Lyra McKee in Belfast – kaufen Sie dieses Foto und finden Sie ähnliche Bilder auf Adobe Stock [10][11][12] In 2014, she came to wider public attention with the publication of a blog post titled "Letter to my 14-year-old self" in which she described the challenges of growing up gay in Belfast; it was subsequently made into a short film. Call me anytime worked both ways but Lyra and I had agreed that if it was after ten at night she would use it in emergencies. [28][29] Violence broke out after police raids on dissidents with the aim of seizing munitions ahead of the Easter Rising commemorative parades due to take place in the area that weekend. Sara assures me that it did get better, but I remain unconvinced. The disturbances were centred on Fanad Drive. [30][39] Séamus Dooley, assistant general secretary of the National Union of Journalists in Northern Ireland described her as "a journalist of courage, style and integrity". On Sunday evening in Mrs McKee’s house, I was chatting with another one of Lyra’s friends. [note 1], McKee was born on 31 March 1990 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. [3] Her interest in journalism began at fourteen years old when she wrote for the school newspaper[4] at St Gemma's High School. If you got it wrong then you had 15 seconds before the burning fuse reached the ­powder keg. I was assured that this was way better than the average of four or five and that one of her very special friends managed six times in a week. When people die we miss them. She notably wrote "Suicide of the Ceasefire Babies", an article on teenage suicides linked to the conflict. Police said that a gunman then fired up to twelve shots towards police officers. I know that she has done similar things for many. The funeral of the 29-year-old, held in Belfast on Wednesday, heard powerful and political statements from those closest to the journalist. When love wants to part we mourn. That it wasn’t an instant fix and that I would send her something. [25][26] After her death it was revealed that she had been planning to propose marriage to Canning, and had purchased an engagement ring. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. [15], Publication of her first book, a non-fiction work titled Angels with Blue Faces, was imminent at the time of her death. A priest has questioned why it has taken the death of 29-year-old Lyra McKee to unite parties and bridge the political divide. [27], McKee's funeral took place at the Anglican St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, on 24 April. [9], In 2011, McKee joined the staff of news aggregator Mediagazer, a sister site of technology news aggregator Techmeme. She was Irish freedom", "Lyra McKee: Standing ovation as priest challenges politicians", "This is what happened last night during the violence in Derry", "Journalist shot dead in Derry during rioting in the city", "Lyra McKee murder: How was this allowed to happen? When the great are taken from us it leaves a hole. Violence broke out after police raids on dissidents with the aim of seizing munitions ahead of the Easter Risingcommemorative parades due to take place in the area that weekend. But when I enquired about the logistics of the venture she said, ‘I’m not sure, can you ring him and find out when he is free?’. [48], McKee, and her friends' attempt to get a conviction after her death, are the subject of a documentary film, The Real Derry Girls, made by Peter Taylor for the BBC. In those early days Lyra was fearless and naive in equal measures. Fr Martin Magill says NI politicians felt pressure at Lyra McKee funeral. The group stated that McKee wasn't the objective of the attack and offered its apologies to McKee's family and partner. Lyra McKee’s funeral was held on Wednesday 24 April 2019 in Belfast at St Anne’s Cathedral near Ms McKee’s north Belfast home. [36][45] On the same day police arrested a 57-year-old woman in connection with the murder; she was later released unconditionally. [4][19] In 2016 Forbes magazine named her as one of its "30 under 30 in media" because of her work as an investigative reporter. I told her I knew exactly what that was. And anyone who prefers the superheroes of DC comics over those of Stan Lee’s Marvel was a subspecies not worthy of humanity. [30][31] Mobile phone footage and police CCTV footage[32] shows a masked gunman, believed to be a member of the New IRA, opening fire with a handgun. As a journalist she lived in a world of questions. They also said that it was a "pointless and futile act to destroy the progress made over the last 20 years, which has the overwhelming support of people everywhere". [27] Members of the National Union of Journalists formed a guard of honour. Lyra McKee funeral begins as coffin of murdered journalist carried into cathedral; The Prime Minister spoke with relatives and the funeral today. A brief exchange on whether it was quicker to drive to Derry or LondonDerry. [30] Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said "our solidarity also goes out to the people of Derry and to the entire journalism community. 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