The funeral of murdered Lyra McKee took place this afternoon at St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast, as crowds lined the Streets outside to pay their respect to the journalist.
Its almost a week since the ‘New IRA’ shot Ms McKee as she was coving the riots in the Creggan area of Londonderry last Thursday evening. Ms McKee was transported in a police Land Rover immediately to hospital by was pronounced dead soon after.
As the funeral of Lyra began, fellow journalist members of the NUJ formed a guard of honour while those members of the NUJ not able to attend, were invited to stand for Lyra where ever they were. Tributes were also held in several other towns and cities across the UK including London, Glasgow and outside the Guildhall in Londonderry.
Inside the Cathedral Lyra’s family and friend gathered and had been asked to dress in Harry Potter and Marvel attire as these were a couple of Lyra’s favourite things.
Also in attendance were politicians including Prime Minister Teressa May, Labour leader Jeremy Corbin, President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varikar. DUP leader Arleen Foster was seated alongside Sinn Fein leader & deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald & Michelle O’Neill.
Speaking at the opening of the funeral, Dean Stephen Forbe, spoke to the congregation about Lyra being a school child in Belfast when the good Friday agreement was signed, Saying;
“She was a child of the Good Friday Agreement. She grew up to champion it’s hope for a society that was free from prejudice of the past.”
Also speaking at the service was Ft Martin Magill show brung congregation to their feet in support when he said;
“Why in Gods name does it take the death of a 29 year old woman with he whole like in front of her to get to this point.”
Ft Magill was referring to the non functioning power sharing and urged the two main parties to begin to work together to make a better life for the next generation.
The Sister of Lyra, Nichola Cornor, spoke about her sisters vision for the future.
“In the words of Lyra herself, we must change our own world, one piece at a time.
Now let’s get to work.”
Following the service, Ms McKee was buried at Carnmoney Cemetery.
