Three men on trial for murdering Derry journalist

The trial of three men accused of murdering journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry five years ago has begun.

Peter Cavanagh, 35, of Mary Street in Derry; Jordan Devine, 23, of Bishop Street; and Paul McIntyre, 56, of Kells Walk have all been charged with murder.

Lyra McKee died after becoming was hit by a bullet when he saw the riot in Creggan in April 2019.

New IRA admit responsibility for the 29-year-old’s murder.

Belfast Crown Court heard that four gunshots, fired that night by a masked man, “is the culmination of an orchestrated disorder”.

It was also shown footage from an MTV documentary which was being filmed in the area at the time of Ms McKee’s death.

The three defendants face several other charges, including possession of firearms and ammunition with intent, as well as possession and disposal of petrol bombs.

Mr McIntyre is also accused of being a member of a banned organisation.

Seven other men from Derry are on trial for a range of charges including rioting and throwing a petrol bomb.

They are: Joseph Patrick Barr, 38, of Sandringham Drive; Jude McCrory, 26, of Gartan Square; William Patrick Elliott, 57, of Ballymagowan Gardens; Joseph Anthony Campbell, 23, of Gosheden Cottages; Patrick Anthony Gallagher, 32, of John Field Place; Kieran George McCool, 55, of Ballymagowan Gardens; and Christopher Joseph Gillen, 43, of Balbane Pass.

Several family members and friends of Ms McKee, including her partner Sara Canning, were in court when prosecutors opened their case to the public.

Crown counsel told Judge Patricia Smyth that Ms McKee was shot and killed in the Fanad Drive area of ​​Creggan at approximately 11pm BST on 18 April 2019.

The lawyer said he was standing near a police Land Rovers, which were in the area due to a search being carried out at a nearby address, when four shots were fired in his direction.

The shooting was the “culmination of an organized disturbance”, the court heard, when police Land Rovers were attacked with petrol bombs and stolen vehicles set on fire.

Gunshots were fired by a masked man standing at the corner of Fanad Drive and the south side of Central Drive, and he was accompanied by several people who deliberately encouraged or helped people, the court heard more.

“The prosecution said the three men were Paul McIntyre, Jordan Devine and Peter Cavanagh,” the lawyer added.

Prosecution lawyers said the remaining seven defendants were “accused of participating in, or knowingly encouraging, the disorder”.

He added that Mr McIntyre, Mr Devine, Mr Gillen and Mr Campbell were charged further in connection with an incident which happened two days earlier, on April 16, when a petrol bomb was thrown at police and IRA graffiti was painted on a nearby building.

Before the hearing adjourned for lunch, an MTV videotape was played to the court.

In the footage, TV presenter Reggie Yates speaks to members of Saoradh – a group described as the political wing of the New IRA – as part of a documentary.

Defendants Patrick Gallagher and Jude McCrory – described in court as the “principle contact for the production company” – met Mr Yates in Creggan and then took him to the party’s office in Chamberlain Street.

They discussed politics, opposition to the “British Crown Forces” in the city and events from history related to the IRA.

Footage from the documentary also features Mr McIntyre, Mr Gillen and Mr Devine.

During the filming, Mr McCrory and Mr Gallagher became aware of the police and Army presence in other areas of Derry, with McCrory telling Mr Yates “this is attack mode” and he believed they would be in the area.

Mr Yates then spoke into the camera and said: “I thought I was going to have tea with his mum.”

He went on to say that “something heavier than” might be in the “sleepy cul-de-sac”.

Mr McCrory, Mr Gallagher and Mr Elliot later accompanied the film crew to the Creggan area of ​​Derry, where the footage showed a police vehicle being attacked with petrol bombs thrown by several masked men.

The prosecution confirmed that these men, as identified by their clothing, were Mr McIntyre, Mr Devine and Mr Gillen.

In the footage, Mr Yates then asks why the police did not get out of the vehicle.

Mr Gallagher replied that he had “been at the back of his mind that he was under severe threat”.

There “could be a bigger attack, there could be armed men”, Mr Gallagher later said.

Mr Gallagher is then seen telling Mr Yates that in previous riots in the town, a masked man had fired an automatic weapon.

He then added: “What he is going to say now will never happen again.”

The trial continues.