Northern Ireland

MTV will not screen footage from day Lyra McKee was murdered

Lyra McKee was shot dead by dissident republicans last April while observing rioting in Derry
Lyra McKee was shot dead by dissident republicans last April while observing rioting in Derry Lyra McKee was shot dead by dissident republicans last April while observing rioting in Derry

MTV has confirmed it will not broadcast a documentary filmed in Derry on the day Lyra McKee was murdered.

A camera crew from a production company working for MTV UK were in the city's Creggan area in April last year when 29-year-old Belfast journalist was shot dead while observing rioting.

Footage from the episode of Reggie Yates Meets World has been examined for evidence in the PSNI investigation.

The Sunday Times reported yesterday it will not be screened.

"Following the incident, and in full agreement with the producers, we ceased production of that episode out of respect for Lyra’s family," MTV said.

"It was decided it wouldn/t be in good taste to air anything that was filmed,” added Sam Wilkinson, series producer for Reggie Yates Meets World.

"It wouldn’t have made enough of a documentary anyway because we were only shooting for one day."

Dissident republican group The New IRA admitted carrying out the murder.

Last year, MTV released a statement insisting there was"no evidence of any sort to show that the presence of the media on the ground contributed or impacted the situation on the Creggan estate".

They were responding to claims made by some residents that dissidents put on a "show of strength" for the television crew.

A PSNI spokesman said the MTV producers have been "fully co-operative in relation to the investigation of Lyra's murder".

MTV have also said the shooting occurred "after the film crew had left the area on the first day of filming".

"MTV was not a line of police inquiry in this case and the PSNI was provided with footage filmed that night to aid with their investigations."

Ms McKee was shot during rioting at around 11pm on April 18 last year.