PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin speaking in Derry today urging people to come forward with information about Lyra McKee’s killer
The 29-year-old author and writer was fatally wounded after a lone gun fired up to ten rounds from a handgun at police lines in Creggan.
Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin came to the Guildhall where he was joined by the Mayor of Derry John Boyle, local political, religious and civic leaders to condemn the brutal actions of dissident republican terrorists last night.
He branded those behind the attack as “warped ideologists” who should “hang their heads in shame”.
Mr Martin said he “cared deeply” about Derry having spent 11 years of his policing career in the city.
He said he wanted to come to Derry to “express my own personal condolences and that of the PSNI to Lyra McKee’s family.
“I know that the callous and brutal which occurred on its streets last night will be condemned and the majority of people in this city today will be heartbroken and repulsed at the actions which will not have been carried out in their name.
“And it is because I know about the heart of this city, having spent such time here I wanted to come along today to stand with the leaders and to say to those who carried this out, this was not done to further any cause, this will have achieved nothing other than to plunge a family into grief and to condemn the city we all love to the worst possible headlines, global headlines today on Good Friday, 21 years to the day that our peace agreement was signed.
DCC Martin made a direct appeal to people in Derry to come forward with information about Lyra’s brutal murder.
“There are people in this who know people they love who are involved in organisations like the ‘New IRA’.
“I would urge those people to have conversation in their homes, in their family space, do it in Lyra’s memory, to urge the people they love to step away from such organisations, to step away from such violence and to recognise how out of step they with the wishes, not only of the people of this city, but the people of this island.
“Last night’s actions are so out of step of what we all want.”
Talented journalist Lyra McKee shot dead in Derry on Thursday
“The gunman and those who share his warped ideology should hang their heads in shame today – they represent no one.
“Lyra’s murder has appalled not just people across this city, but people around the world and there has been a global wave of shock and sympathy from her colleagues in journalism, politicians, church and community leaders.
“Today is Good Friday and it’s a cruel twist in our history that 21 years ago the majority of people in Northern Ireland signed up to the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement yet here we are today mourning the loss of a talented young woman, a young journalist who was also a daughter, a sister and a partner.
“This is a dark day.
“There is no doubt that the people behind last night’s violence on the streets of this city, who threw dozens of petrol bombs at officers, who hijacked and set on fire vehicles had one aim – they set out to kill and take the life of a police officer – tragically they took the life of a talented young writer.
“We have now launched a murder investigation to find the gunman who murdered Lyra and bring those responsible for the orchestrated violence that has been shown on television screens around the world to justice.
“And this is where now, more than ever, we need the public to help us.
“I want to make a direct appeal to the people who know who carried out this murder, to the people who know those who goaded young people to put their lives and futures on the line, the people prepared to bring murder and mayhem onto the streets of this city – you need to do the right thing.
“You have to help make this madness stop. Please, pick up the phone and make a difference.
Rioting erupted in Creggan on Thursday night following police searches for dissident guns
“Tell us what you know.”
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