10 months ago

Lyra McKee's family urge people not to use her image in political agendas

She was killed in 2019.

Journalist Lyra McKee's family has urged anyone with a "political agenda" to not use her picture.

The Belfast native died in 2019 after she was hit by a bullet during rioting in the Creggan area of Derry, and the republican group the New IRA have since been linked to the murder.

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Nichola McKee Corner has said that anyone who is using her sister's picture to promote their own political agenda is only giving more pain and distress to the family.

Nichola was speaking out after a tweet was published that contained a picture of Lyra alongside a political statement.

Her family has since requested that the tweet be removed.

“The pain and trauma of Lyra’s murder has not lessened for our family over the last three years,” Nichola said.

“Our memories of Lyra are so precious to us and to see her picture used by people who never knew her, who never understood what made her the inspirational person she was just to make some political point or other is heartless beyond words.“They sully Lyra’s memory. Shame on them."The 29 year old was shot dead in Derry in April 2019 after an outbreak of violence in the city.

There have been a number of arrests made since her death, most recently five men were arrested on March 15 in connection with the murder.

Two men have previously been formally charged with the murder, which was quickly condemned as a "senseless act of violence"

The two men were also charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life, riot, possession of petrol bombs, throwing petrol bombs and arson.

One of those two men charged with the murder, a 33-year-old man, had also been charged with robbery.

A third man, aged 20, had been charged with riot, possession of petrol bombs and throwing petrol bombs.