Priest urges "New IRA" to turn away from violence at murdered journalist's funeral

By Q Radio News

The dissident republican group that murdered journalist Lyra McKee has been urged to walk away from violence.

Father Martin Magill was addressing the funeral service at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast on Wednesday which was attended by Prime Ministers and other prominent politicians.

The 29-year-old was murdered by the New IRA in Derry/Londonderry last Thursday night after a gunman opened fire on a street full of people during disorder in the Creggan area.

Father Magill continued: "I plead with you to take the road of non-violence to achieve your political ends," Fr Magill told a congregation which included Prime Minister Theresa May and politicians from across the divide in the region.

"It was encouraging to see that those who provide a political analysis to the organisation responsible for her death chose to call off their parade on Easter Monday following the call from Father Joe Gormley, the parish priest in Creggan where Lyra was killed.

"To those still intent on violence, I ask you to listen to the majority of the people on your beloved island of Ireland who are calling on you to stop."

LISTEN: Q Radio's Grainne Connolly reflects on a day of mourning for the 'ceasefire baby' Lyra McKee.

Fr Magill said he "dares to hope" that the tragedy can be "the doorway to a new beginning".

He paid tribute to those who had left red hand prints on the offices of the dissident republican political group Saoradh at the weekend, describing it as a "powerful gesture of non-violence", and also commended those who have given information about the murder to police.

"There is a rule in many of our communities that we do not, we should not, give information to police, and that to do so is to become a 'tout'," he said.

"But that was one of a number of rules - rules that also said that it was OK to brutalise children for petty crimes, or rules that say you can live in the locality until you are told you can't, or rules that said the only way we could gain 'freedom' was by other fellow human beings losing their lives.

"But this week I have seen these rules turned on their head. I have seen many people stand up and condemn this culture of violence and coercive control.

"We need to send a very different message and so I appeal to those who have information about Lyra's murder but who haven't yet come forward to do so now.

IMAGE: Q Radio journalists joined colleagues across the UK and Ireland in holding a minute's silence earlier in memory of Lyra McKee. 

"If you want to see an end to these brutal rules, and see a new society built on justice and fairness, on hope and not fear, then you can help build that society by letting the police know what you know.

"There will be special measures put in place to ensure your safety and where you will not be intimidated by coercive controllers, if you do so."

Fr Magill also urged Northern Ireland's politicians to start talking to reform the powersharing government which has been collapsed for more than two years.

Prime Minister Theresa May is attending the funeral along with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn; The Secretary of State Karen Bradley; DUP leader Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald.

The 29-year-old's funeral took place in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast and she will later be laid to rest in Carnmoney cemetery.

Lyra McKee's funeral cortege arrived outside the Cathedral after passing Belfast's nearby Kremlin bar, a gay nightclub, where a number of people with rainbow flags were present.

The crowd applauded as the cortege arrived at the cathedral, with a white and pink floral heart carried in the hearse.

Lyra McKee’s sister Nichola gets emotional as she describes the bond Lyra and her mother shared. She describes it as ‘being like velcro’, as the pair were inseperable. pic.twitter.com/BrOBzncuhp

— Hannah Spratt (@Radio_Han) 24 April 2019

Lyra McKee’s sister Nichola Corner says the 29 year-old doted on her nieces and nephews and spent time doing special things with each of them. pic.twitter.com/tjfW37qe3b

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) 24 April 2019

Nichola Corner, Lyra McKee’s big sister says with being the youngest, Lyra often provided the rest of the family with entertainment growing up. pic.twitter.com/P94d4rLCMt

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) 24 April 2019

‘Saint Sister’ sing Dreams by the Cranberries at Lyra McKee’s funeral in Belfast. pic.twitter.com/domK1H2QqZ

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) 24 April 2019

A loud round of applause rings out from the crowd in Writer’s square as Lyra McKee’s coffin is carried in to St.Anne’s cathedral. pic.twitter.com/7Zjf3Yph8p

— Hannah Spratt (@Radio_Han) 24 April 2019

A round of applause begins from the crowd as the hearse carrying Lyra McKee’s coffin arrives at St.Anne’s cathedral. pic.twitter.com/8q3jHhwxGn

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) 24 April 2019

Inside the church, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was seen talking to Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and later with Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster.

The cathedral was packed with around 600 mourners.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has arrived at St.Anne’s cathedral in Belfast ahead of the funeral of journalist Lyra Mckee. pic.twitter.com/Gct4cUeFEq

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) 24 April 2019

There was more applause from hundreds of people outside the cathedral as Miss McKee's coffin was carried inside.

In introductory comments, Dean Stephen Forde said: "Lyra was a person who broke down barriers and reached across boundaries.

"This was her hallmark in life, this is her legacy in death."

He said she was a child of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which largely ended decades of violence and talked of the hopes for an end to the prejudices of the past and the possibilities of a new future.

A tribute from her mother Joan, brothers Gary and David, and sisters Joan Hunter, Nichola Corner and Mary Crossan said: "On Thursday 18th April our beautiful Lyra was taken from us.

"A daughter, a sister, an aunt, a great-aunt, a partner, a niece, a cousin, and above all, a best friend and confidante to so many of us.

"A friend to all, a gentle innocent soul who wouldn't wish ill on anyone. Such a warm and innocent heart, she was the greatest listener, someone who had time for everyone."

The McKee family added: "She was a smart, strong-minded woman who believed passionately in inclusivity, justice and truth.

"Lyra spoke to and made friends with anybody and everybody, no matter what their background, those of all political views and those with none. This openness, and her desire to bring people together, made her totally apolitical."

They said: "We would ask that Lyra's life and her personal philosophy are used as an example to us all as we face this tragedy together.

"Lyra's answer would have been simple, the only way to overcome hatred and intolerance is with love, understanding and kindness."

Sara Canning, Ms McKee's partner, said previously: "Our hopes and dreams and all of her amazing potential was snuffed out by this single barbaric act."

Ms McKee's funeral is intended to be a cross-community, cross-border and multi-cultural service, while members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) will form a guard of honour.

Various political and community leaders are due to attend, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.

Those attending were asked to wear Harry Potter and Marvel Comic merchandise in tribute to the journalist's love of both works.

Miss McKee's family asked that only family flowers are laid, but a donation can be made via a

GoFundMe page set up by the NUJ - https://uk.gofundme.com/in-memory-of-lyra-mckee

The New IRA admitted responsibility for the murder on Tuesday in a statement given to The Irish News.

Using a recognised code word, the group offered "full and sincere apologies" to Ms McKee's family and friends, claiming: "We have instructed our volunteers to take the utmost care in future when engaging the enemy, and put in place measures to help ensure this."

The New IRA is an amalgam of armed groups opposed to the peace process and it recently claimed responsibility for parcel bombs sent to London and Glasgow in March.

Police believe the violence was orchestrated in response to an earlier search by officers aimed at averting imminent trouble associated with the week's anniversary of the Easter Rising.