Eight gentlemen, casually dressed, took part in Northern Ireland’s largest court trial that was investigating the murder of reporter Lyra McKee in an easy-going manner. As the courtroom clerk requested that everyone in Court 12 of Laganside courthouse in Belfast stand up before the judge entered as per customary practice, all of them remained seated. Only one security personnel was seen behind the glass panel of the dock, and there was no apparent police on the premises.
Ms. McKee’s sister, partner, and several relatives and companions were all in the public gallery behind these men. Ms. McKee, a young woman from Belfast aged 29, lost her life when she was hit in the head by a bullet amidst riots in the Derry’s Creggan region on April 18th, 2019. The New IRA took responsibility for her demise.
On Wednesday, three of the males charged with the crime of Ms. McKee’s murder were among the individuals present for the fourth day of the trial without a jury; the remaining five faced various charges such as rioting and hurling a petrol bomb. Two other persons accused of related crimes were absent.
Peter Cavanagh, 35, of Mary Street, Derry; Jordan Gareth Devine, 23, of Bishop Street, Derry; and Paul McIntyre, 56, of Kells Walk, Derry, are all on trial for murder. Devine, casually dressed in a two-toned hoodie, was seen gnawing at his clothing’s cord as police officers described the sequence of events — hearing the reports of gunshots and the subsequent panic when they attempted to save Ms. McKee by applying CPR in their land rover. Cavanagh, donning a grey pullover, and McIntyre, in a white shirt, displayed no emotions and their arms remained crossed.
Two of the accused even made light conversation during the course of the morning evidence while another noted things down. One was seen continually chewing gum. A video footage filmed by MTV, who were producing a documentary on dissident republicans, was presented repeatedly in court. The footage contained the sound of the gunshot and a horrific scream. “The scream was truly petrifying,” said a now-retired law enforcement officer to Judge Patricia Smyth.
The court watched video evidence for the first time, capturing the moment when Ms McKee’s lifeless body was swiftly moved to the back of a police vehicle. The decision had been made based on the belief that getting her to the hospital in this manner would be swifter than waiting for an ambulance.
A scene of silenced shock blanketed the gallery where Ms McKee’s sister sat, her hands shielding her mouth as the video played.
The riot, which had drawn the attention of at least four police transportation units, was the backdrop in which another officer narrated how he found Ms McKee. She was on the ground, encircled by about ten individuals.
“I overheard someone say, ‘she’s taken a bullet’, and another remark, ‘she’s been hit in the skull’. I instructed they lift her into the back of the Land Rover.”
The court learnt that the chaos attracted a mob of between 100 and 150 people, “including young children”. Petrol bombs and bricks were tossed at police cars during this turmoil.
In the wake of her shooting, a cacophony of “screams and cries” erupted.
The officer driving the vehicle filled with the incapacitated Ms McKee described their frantic journey to Altnagelvin Hospital; weaving “through the blazing cars and thronging crowd”. The rush to the hospital took just under five minutes.
The officer who administered CPR reported she showed no sign of breathing, but they carried on “with chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation right up until they arrived at Altnagelvin Hospital.”
Sadly, Ms McKee’s passing was confirmed shortly after their arrival at the hospital. The trial still remains underway.