Fellow journalists from across the UK and Ireland held vigils in memory of Lyra McKee as her funeral was underway in Belfast.
Lyra McKee, who was 29, died after being shot by the New IRA (New Irish Republican Army), a paramilitary group, in Londonderry last Thursday.
She had worked for publications including The Belfast Telegraph and BuzzFeed News, and wrote regularly about her experience as a young gay woman living in Northern Ireland.
She was due to publish a book about the death of Unionist MP Robert Bradford at the hands of the Provisional IRA in 1981.
#WeStandWithLyra pic.twitter.com/89pwBisElh
— Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) April 24, 2019
Reporters from numerous outlets shared images on social media of their own vigils to coincide with her funeral service in Belfast, using the hashtag #WeStandWithLyra.
Many gathered at the Guildhall in Londonderry to offer their respects.
Crowd in solidarity with #LyraMcKee #WeStandWithLyra vigil in #Derry pic.twitter.com/gvO1DRyi3S
— Jamie Taylor (@Jamie_Taylor_63) April 24, 2019
Staff from Channel 4 News in London were seen standing beside a screen bearing the hashtag and a photo of McKee’s face, while the BBC Scotland newsroom also came to a standstill.
At Channel 4 News #WeStandWithLyra pic.twitter.com/3nemqgxfLZ
— Hayley Barlow (@Hayley_Barlow) April 24, 2019
Vigil at BBC Scotland, Glasgow, for Lyra. #WeStandWithLyra pic.twitter.com/D8kRQCYgJK
— CRAIG WILLIAMS (@CRAIGWILLIAMS4) April 24, 2019
ITV News’s Rupert Evelyn tweeted a clip of people applauding the murdered reporter in their Bristol and South West newsroom.
In Bristol and the South West #WeStandwithLyra @nujofficial @itvwestcountry @itvnews pic.twitter.com/9mI3xX2ZM6
— Rupert Evelyn (@rupertevelyn) April 24, 2019
Other similar tributes were seen in Cork, Galway and Glasgow and even as far afield as the United States, China and the Middle East.
Cork media stands with Lyra. #WeStandWithLyra today in daunt square @PadraigRice @deshocks pic.twitter.com/y8RT04wF4O
— Jerry Buttimer (@jerrybuttimer) April 24, 2019
NUJ members at the INTO Conference in Galway #WeStandWithLyra pic.twitter.com/lmoQqNaC7z
— Daragh Small (@daraghs0) April 24, 2019
“Cameras down in Doha to remember fellow journalist #LyraMcKee senselessly murdered in Derry. Her values of inclusion, love and equality are N Ireland’s future. #WestandwithLyra,” Belfast-born BBC reporter Andrea Catherwood tweeted.
Cameras down in Doha to remember fellow journalist #LyraMcKee senselessly murdered in Derry. Her values of inclusion, love and equality are N Ireland’s future. #WestandwithLyra pic.twitter.com/vnq4kaffQv
— Andrea Catherwood (@acatherwoodnews) April 24, 2019
Around 60 people had gathered in London at a service at St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street, known as “the journalists’ church”, according to The Press Gazette.
Around 60 people have gathered at St Bride’s Church in Fleet Street for a vigil for murdered journalist Lyra McKee. #WeStandWithLyra pic.twitter.com/XSwq7CzwIP
— Press Gazette (@pressgazette) April 24, 2019
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) showed an image of 29 candles placed at the church, referencing the age at which McKee died.
Journalist gather at @stbrideschurch to remember Lyra McKee #WestandwithLyra #london #media #journalists #journalism pic.twitter.com/neGTtKG0V4
— NUJ (@NUJofficial) April 24, 2019
Signing the book of condolences @stbrideschurch for Lyra McKee #westandwithlyra pic.twitter.com/jmXQkaqPnd
— NUJ (@NUJofficial) April 24, 2019
All are welcome to sign a book of condolence for #LyraMcKee at #JournalistsChurch EC4Y 7AU as we hold vigil on this her funeral day.
We hold Lyra, her partner Sara, family, friends & colleagues in our hearts and prayers. May she rest in peace.#WeStandWithLyra @NUJofficial pic.twitter.com/gUYwY6gaWD
— St Bride's Church (@stbrideschurch) April 24, 2019
“We hold Lyra, her partner Sara, family, friends & colleagues in our hearts and prayers. May she rest in peace,” the church tweeted.
At a vigil held last week in Londonderry, a speaker on behalf of the NUJ told the crowd, “The NUJ stands by the right of its members to investigate and report the news. We are deeply shocked that our young member has become the latest of over 1,300 journalists who have been killed worldwide since 1992 simply for doing their job.”
Journalists around the world also stand in support of Lyra, and condemn the violence against their peers around the globe.
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