THE family of murdered journalist Lyra McKee have said her mother is devastated after her mobile phone - the last Christmas gift her daughter gave her - went missing from her room in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital.
Joan McKee has been in hospital for almost two weeks.
Her daughter Nichola Corner said the mobile, which holds many precious messages, went missing within the last week.
The Honor mobile was the last Christmas present Ms McKee bought for her mother before she was murdered in April.
Ms McKee (29) was shot in the head by dissident republican group the New IRA as she monitored a riot in the Creggan estate in Derry.
The writer's sister Nichola Corner said her mother drew comfort from reading messages Ms McKee had sent her.
"The phone has only sentimental value," she said.
"My baby sister Lyra McKee bought it for our mom for Christmas 2018 - Lyra's last Christmas. My mom often looked back on the many messages that Lyra sent her...but now she can't. Please help us find it.
"The phone had a hard case on the back with a little ring that she could put her finger through to make it easier to hold.
"If anyone finds this phone or knows of its whereabouts, please PM (private message) me or another family member. Thank you."
Ms McKee's sister-in-law Nicola made a similar appeal on Twitter.
"So many irreplaceable messages and memories please share and hopefully we can get this back #Lyramckee," she wrote.
