Lyra McKee and partner Sara Canning. Lyra had plans to propose to Sara and marry her in Donegal
Sara Canning took to social media to vent her anger at the inclusion of the images aired during Tuesday night’s BBC Newsnight programme.
Lyra McKee was shot dead by dissident republican group the New IRA as she observed rioting in Derry’s Creggan estate on Thursday, April 18.
In a segment presented by renowned journalist Peter Taylor on the threat of dissident republicans in the North of Ireland, phone camera footage is shown of the moment Lyra McKee was shot.
A gunshot can be heard, followed by screaming and scenes of observers running passed the camera.
The programme also features an interview with a spokesperson for the republican party Saoradh, the New IRA’s political wing.
In a post on Twitter, Sara Canning disagreed with how the footage was used.
“Massive thanks to Peter Taylor and Newsnight for re-traumatising me tonight, the footage of the moments around Lyra’s death were shown totally inappropriately and I am utterly disgusted,” she said.
“A total lack of respect shown for Lyra, her family, friends and myself.
The last moments of Lyra McKee’s life as she worked as a journalist when rioting erupted in Creggan on Thursday, April 18
Other viewers, however, voiced their support for the programme.
“Powerful journalism and film making from Peter Taylor on the New IRA’s murder of Lyra McKee on @BBCNewsnight last night,” one user wrote.
Another said: “This was such a powerful piece from Peter Taylor, six months on from the death of Lyra McKee.”
The BBC has not yet commented on the report.
