The Belfast Crown Court was informed that the night when journalist Lyra McKee was killed in Derry, the chaotic scenes of rioting were orchestrated deliberately for the benefit of a film crew from MTV. The prosecutors of the trial pointed out that the men who hurled petrol bombs at police while wearing masks seemed undisturbed by being caught on camera, implying that those responsible for inciting the violence had given their approval.
Ms McKee, who was 29 at the time, died from a gunshot wound to her head whilst she was close to police vehicles witnessing the rioting in Derry’s Creggan area on the evening of April 18th, 2019. The New IRA accepted the blame for killing the writer.
Three men, Peter Cavanagh (35) from Mary Street, Jordan Gareth Devine (23) from Bishop Street, and Paul McIntyre (56) from Kells Walk, all residing in Derry, are on trial for her murder. Seven others are also standing trial, accused of offences like rioting and petrol bomb throwing. These include Joseph Patrick Barr (36), Jude Forest Coffey (26), William Patrick Elliott (57), Joseph Anthony Campbell (23), Patrick Anthony Gallagher (32), Christopher Joseph Gillen (43) and Kieran George McCool (55), all from different parts of Derry.
It had been revealed in the trial, which does not have a jury, that TV presenter Reggie Yates was filming a documentary in Derry with an MTV crew about republicans objecting to the peace process in Northern Ireland when the shooting took place. The filming was being done in the lead up to the city’s regular commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising orchestrated by republicans.
The court had been shown MTV footage last week that displayed masked men assaulting police Land Rovers with petrol bombs prior to Ms McKee being killed by a bullet. Prosecution lawyer David McDowell, on a Tuesday morning, focused on defendants who weren’t hiding their identities during the violent activity. He informed the court that both Mr Coffey and Mr Gallagher had escorted the MTV crew to Derry’s Creggan area to witness the unrest.
According to the barrister, it was strange that the masked individuals didn’t mind the television camera documenting their actions. Not a single masked man opposed its presence. In fact, they were willing to participate in an interview with Reggie Yates, even lending him a petrol bomb to examine, which Yates was not uncomfortable doing. The barrister pointed out that this suggested the masked men were likely forewarned about the filming, or that the involvement of Mr. Coffey and Mr. Gallagher validated the recording.
The barrister added that the response of the masked men would’ve drastically changed if an unsanctioned camera crew had shown up unprepared at the riot scene. He further stated, they witnessed the peculiar scene of masked petrol bombers being captured on camera assaulting the police at close proximity.
The barrister said that the natural conclusion the prosecution deduces is that the masked petrol bombers delayed their actions until Gallagher and Coffey arrived with the film crew. They then proceeded to the scene to initiate the first attack as if staging an act for the camera. The barrister concluded by stating succinctly that the film crew was purposefully brought to the location where the masked petrol bombers were waiting, to start the petrol bombing. They interacted with the crew as they geared up for the attack and revealed their plans to kick off the attack, thus providing the camera with the opportunity to film and document the unfolding events. The trial is ongoing, added the PA.