Three men from Derry have been acquitted of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, who was killed in 2019 during unrest in the Creggan area of Derry. The verdict was delivered at Belfast Crown Court last Friday, with Jordan Devine, 25, Paul McIntyre, 58, and Peter Cavanagh, 38, found not guilty of her murder.

McKee, aged 29 and originally from Belfast, was fatally wounded on April 18, 2019, after being struck by a bullet while observing rioting near police vehicles. The New IRA claimed responsibility for the shooting, which occurred amid heightened tensions in the area.

The trial, which began in May 2024 before Mrs Justice Smyth, examined the involvement of the three men over several months. Despite extensive proceedings, the court concluded that the prosecution had not established their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Following the verdict, McKee’s family expressed deep disappointment, stating that the outcome represented a complete failure of the justice system to deliver accountability for her death. Friends of McKee also described the ruling as “heartbreaking,” underscoring the enduring pain caused by the loss.

The case had drawn significant public attention given McKee’s profile as a journalist and the broader context of ongoing political and social unrest in Northern Ireland. Her death had previously intensified calls for peace and justice in the region.