THE Northern Ireland Office has been accused of an "appalling manipulation" of the grief of Lyra McKee's family.
In a video message posted online by the NIO yesterday, Ms McKee's sister Nichola Corner called for a restoration of devolved government at Stormont.
She said it was important for the executive to return "because they are the people who have the power to make bigger changes".
Posting the video online, the NIO described it as a "heartfelt plea to Northern Ireland politicians to restore devolved institutions now".
Alliance leader and MEP Naomi Long said the NIO's use of the video was "in very poor taste".
"This is an appalling manipulation of a family's grief. The NIO know 'now' means denying both LGBTQ+ people and women their rights," she tweeted.
"We're ready to restore an assembly and executive capable of delivering equality and human rights for all of our people."
Under Westminister legislation, abortion laws are set to be reformed and same-sex marriage legalised in the north if devolution is not restored by October 21.
Ms McKee was murdered by the New IRA in April while observing rioting in Derry's Creggan estate.
The 29-year-old had previously written about her personal struggles with growing up gay in Belfast.
Northern Ireland has not had a power-sharing government since the DUP and Sinn Féin-led executive fell apart in 2017 in the wake of the RHI scandal.
The NIO did not respond yesterday to requests for a comment.