Northern Ireland

Woman arrested over Lyra McKee murder released unconditionally

New IRA murder victim, Lyra McKee's funeral will take place in Belfast later today, Wednesday.
New IRA murder victim, Lyra McKee's funeral will take place in Belfast later today, Wednesday. New IRA murder victim, Lyra McKee's funeral will take place in Belfast later today, Wednesday.
By Seamus McKinney

A 57-year-old woman arrested yesterday by detectives investigating the murder of Lyra McKee was released unconditionally last night.

It is understood the woman was arrested early yesterday in Derry’s Creggan area.

Ms McKee (29), whose funeral takes place at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast later today, was shot and fatally wounded during a riot in Creggan last Thursday.

Police came under intensive attack after moving into the area to search a house.

A native of Belfast, Ms McKee was shot while observing the riot beside a police vehicle.

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As anti-dissident republican sentiment continues to rise in Derry, a number of dissident republican banners were defaced in the city's Bogside yesterday. Banners opposing police were daubed with Xs in red paint with `Not in my name' painted on a number of them.

There has been criticism of a statement claiming responsibility for Ms McKees murder released by dissident paramilitary group, the New IRA. The organisation offered "full and sincere apologies" to friends and family of the murdered women and said it had warned its members to take "utmost care in future" when opening fire.

Her friend Sinead Quinn told UTV it "means nothing" and "gives no-one comfort".

A number of dissident republican murals in Derry's Bogside have been defaced with the words "Not in our name". Picture by Margaret McLauglin
A number of dissident republican murals in Derry's Bogside have been defaced with the words "Not in our name". Picture by Margaret McLauglin A number of dissident republican murals in Derry's Bogside have been defaced with the words "Not in our name". Picture by Margaret McLauglin

SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood said the statement was an "absolute disgrace" and showed no remorse for Ms McKee's death.

He said: "Their so-called instruction to their `volunteers' to take utmost care when engaging in violence is utterly sickening and devoid of any humanity. Their must recognise the glaringly obvious fact that they are no wanted by the people of the North. It’s time to disband.

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"The murder of Lyra McKee must not be in vain. Political leaders must come together to re-engage in a talks process to fill the vacuum that currently gives groups like this too much oxygen."

Ulster Unionist leader, Robin Swann said the statement was "beneath contempt".

"Their `full and sincere apologies' are of no use or comfort to anyone. And to try to imply that Lyra somehow contributed to her own death because she was `standing beside enemy forces' shows their tenuous grip on reality.

"I doubt these fanatics' pledge that they have instructed their untrained teenagers `to take the utmost care in future when engaging the enemy and put in place measures to help ensure this' will provide much reassurance to anyone," Mr Swann said.