The 'New IRA' admits it was responsible for the murder of journalist Lyra McKee

Apr 23, 2019, 08:59 AM

The New IRA has admitted killing the journalist Lyra McKee in Derry last week. Lyra, who was 29 and a rising star of journalism, was shot dead while observing rioting in the Creggan area of the city on Thursday night. In a statement to the Irish News using a recognised code ward, the dissident republican paramilitary group said it wanted to apologise to her family. "The IRA offer our full and sincere apologies to the partner, family and friends of Lyra McKee for her death" the group said in a statement. This morning the PSNI have announced that their major investigation team detectives have arrested a 57-year-old woman under the Terrorism Act in connection with the murder of Lyra McKee. Lyra's funeral will take place tomorrow at 1pm at St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast. Stephen spoke to Peter Taylor, who has reported extensively on the troubles for many years and one of Lyra's friends, Kathy Johnston, also joined Stephen in studio.