Three men found not guilty of Lyra McKee murder
BBC News 2026-07-03 14:18:14
Context: In Londonderry, Northern Ireland, three men - Peter Cavanagh, Jordan Gareth Devine, and Paul McIntyre - were found not guilty of the 2019 murder of journalist Lyra McKee. The New IRA, a dissident republican paramilitary group, had claimed responsibility for her death, which occurred when she was shot while standing near police vehicles in the Creggan area. The trial, which lasted two years, concluded with the judge, Mrs Justice Smyth, delivering a verdict.
Key Facts
- Lyra McKee, a 29-year-old author, died after being shot in April 2019 while standing close to police vehicles in the Creggan area of Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
- The three accused men, Peter Cavanagh (38) of Mary Street in Derry, Jordan Gareth Devine (25) of Bishop Street, and Paul McIntyre (58) of Kells Walk, faced a joint enterprise murder charge.
- The prosecution alleged that the three men accompanied a lone gunman to a firing point on the night of Lyra McKee's murder and encouraged or assisted him in the crime.
- The defence argued that much of the prosecution's case was based on "pure speculation," and the judge, Mrs Justice Smyth, reserved her judgement for two years to consider all points made in the case.
- The non-jury trial lasted for two years and concluded with the judge delivering a verdict that found Peter Cavanagh, Jordan Gareth Devine, and Paul McIntyre not guilty of Lyra McKee's murder.