GRAFFITI and signs in Derry warning that anyone co-operating with police will be shot has been branded "outrageous" and an "insult" to the memory of murdered Lyra McKee.
The sinister pro-IRA slogans appeared yesterday morning in the Creggan metres from where the journalist was killed on April 18.
She was shot by dissident republicans who fired indiscriminately at police lines during disturbances over the Easter weekend.
Painted on a wall, one message reads "Informers will be executed", and another says "IRA here to stay".
Another message includes a picture of a rat, with the message "Informers will be shot. IRA", and another says "RUC Informers: They will forget about you, we won't. IRA".
The slogans appeared after police confirmed that witnesses who testified to the courts about her murder could possibly be offered anonymity.
Ms McKee’s murder provoked a huge public backlash against dissident republicans, with police reporting unprecedented co-operation from the Creggan area.
Following the killing, dissident republican political group, Saoradh became a focus of public anger. However, in an unusual move yesterday, the group appeared to distance itself from the New IRA.
In a statement yesterday on the Junior McDaid House website, the organisation, said: “Following the tragic killing of Lyra McKee in Derry a fortnight ago, Saoradh offered its analysis of the events that led to the journalist’s death; we did so as a political party on behalf of our membership who share our analysis of the terrible events.
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“We did not and do not speak on behalf of any other organisation and contrary to a hostile media and state narrative we do not speak on behalf of the Irish Republican Army.”
It continued: “Saoradh played no role in the events that led to the death of Lyra McKee."
Kevin Campbell, Sinn Féin councillor and a Creggan resident, said the people of the area had sent a message to the perpetrators and will not be deterred.
"It's an absolute insult to the memory of Lyra McKee, who was murdered by these people," he said.
Mr Campbell said: “People see these gangs for what they are. They aren’t republicans; they are filth and people recognise that.”
Creggan parish priest Fr Joe Gormley branded the graffiti and signs as “outrageous”. He said those who would support such slogans wanted an “Isis-like state” in Derry and across Ireland.
“That message is anti-Gospel; it’s anti-Christ as is the murder of Lyra McKee. We’re dealing with something here that is of another realm here when people actually thing that this is right to have this type of graffiti on walls. It’s trying to create an atmosphere of fear for our children,” he said.
Fr Gormley said those responsible were trying to impose their will through “the barrel of a gun”.
Police said they were aware of the new graffiti. Superintendent Alan Hutton urged anyone with information to contact police at Strand Road or call Crimestoppers.
