Three men have been acquitted of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, who was fatally shot during unrest in Londonderry in 2019. Paul McIntyre, 58, Jordan Gareth Devine, 25, and Peter Cavanagh, 38, all from Londonderry, were cleared of joint enterprise murder after a non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court.

McKee was killed when a bullet struck her during disturbances in the city, where police had been targeted amid violent clashes. The New IRA, a dissident republican group, claimed responsibility for the shooting.

The court found insufficient evidence to convict the three accused of involvement in the fatal attack. The judge’s decision was rendered following legal proceedings intended to establish the defendants’ participation in the incident that led to McKee’s death.

The case has drawn significant attention due to McKee’s status as a journalist and the broader context of ongoing tensions in Northern Ireland. McKee was reporting on the violence at the time and her death triggered widespread condemnation and calls for justice.

Authorities have continued investigations into the killing while efforts to prevent further violence linked to dissident groups remain a priority in the region. The acquittal marks a key development in the legal proceedings related to McKee’s death.