Northern Ireland

Police make two further arrests in Lyra McKee murder probe

Lyra McKee was shot dead by a New IRA gunman in April 2019.
Lyra McKee was shot dead by a New IRA gunman in April 2019. Lyra McKee was shot dead by a New IRA gunman in April 2019.

A further two men have been arrested in connection with the 2019 New IRA murder of Lyra McKee.

A 44-year-old man and a 54-year-old man were arrested under the Terrorism Act following a police operation in Derry's Creggan and Hazelbank areas yesterday morning.

They were taken to Musgrave police station in Belfast for questioning.

The 29-year-old writer was shot dead while observing a riot in Derry's Creggan in April 2019.

Ms McKee was standing close to police lines when a New IRA gunman opened fire, fatally wounding her.

The riot broke out when police went into Derry's Creggan to search a house in the run-up to the 2019 Easter republican commemorations.

Three men have been charged with Ms McKee's murder while a number of other men have been charged with rioting on the night of her murder.

Earlier this month, Gearóid Peter Cavanagh (33) from Elmwood Terrace in Derry's Bogside and Jordan Devine (21) from Synge Court in the Ballymagroarty area were charged with murder.

Paul McIntyre (53), with an address at Kinnego Park in Foyle Springs, was also charged with Ms McKee's murder last year.

Police have said none of the men were believed to have fired the fatal shot but played other roles in the murder. All three have been released on bail.