THE New IRA has admitted that anything they say to the family of murder victim Lyra McKee will sound like a "hollow apology".
The dissident paramilitary organisation described the killing of the 29-year-old journalist in Derry earlier this month as shocking and "something that did not further any cause".
The group also acknowledged there was no public support for its campaign of violence but that they would continue their attacks as they are "symbolic".
"There is nothing we can say that will offer any comfort to her family and friends," representatives of the dissident group's Army Council told the Sunday Times.
"The shots were fired in response to the arrival of Crown Forces. It wasn't a planned attack. It was a spontaneous reaction to the arrival of heavily armed police. Her shooting was unintentional.
"There is nothing we can say that will not sound like a hollow apology."
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There was widespread condemnation of the shooting and growing anger against the group and its associates since the murder which happened following rioting in Derry.
However the dissident group said it accepted that it "cannot defeat the British militarily or even drive them from Ireland" but that its actions would continue for propaganda purposes.
"They let the world know there is an ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland," they said.
"...we will continue to fight for as long as they remain here".
Amid growing anger in the wake of the killing friends of Ms McKee held a protest outside Junior McDaid House in Derry, which is used by a number of groups including Saoradh who are linked to the New IRA, by placing red handprints on the its wall.
It was reported yesterday that the hard-line republican group is being evicted from its offices in the premises following the murder. According to Sunday Life an eviction notice is being served, giving them 28 days to leave the Chamberlain Street building. Saoradh has yet to comment on the claims.
Read more:
- Friends of Lyra McKee place red handprints on Saoradh's Derry HQ
- New IRA admits murder of journalist Lyra McKee and offers 'sincere apologies'
With fresh political talks set to resume on May 7, the priest who received a standing ovation at Ms McKee's funeral after asking why it had taken her death to bring politicians together, has spoken of how the striking image of politicians getting to their feet symbolised the public demand for change.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show yesterday, Fr Martin Magill said:
"The people, in a sense, really put the pressure on in the cathedral to stand," he said.
"Obviously the politicians realised; 'Oh goodness, everybody behind us is standing, we need to move,' and they literally moved because people had moved.
"To some extent, it's almost a metaphor - that I get the sense that people want our politicians to move, and they want them to move now.
"By that, I mean in terms of entering into those talks and in a way that will bring a positive result at the end of them."
