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'Tenuous' evidence against Lyra McKee murder accused

Mark SimpsonCommunity correspondent, BBC News NI
News imagePA Media Shows a young woman with short hair and glasses smilingPA Media
Lyra McKee was shot dead as she observed rioting in the Creggan area of Derry in 2019

Evidence against one of the men accused of the murder of journalist Lyra McKee has been described in court by a defence barrister as "weak" and "tenuous".

Jordan Devine, 25, from Bishop Street in Londonderry, is one of three men charged with the murder, which he denies.

Two other men from Derry have also denied murder - Peter Cavanagh, 37, of Mary Street, and Paul McIntyre, 58, of Kells Walk.

The 29-year-old journalist died after being hit by a bullet as she stood close to police vehicles while watching disturbances in the Creggan area of Derry in April 2019. The New IRA claimed responsibility for her death.

Devine's barrister Eilis McDermott KC told Belfast Crown Court the case against him was "wholly circumstantial".

She described evidence from a forensic image analyst as "tenuous" and said identification evidence had been "inherently weak".

The court was shown mobile phone footage of shots being fired on the night Lyra McKee was killed.

Devine's barrister rejected suggestions that his clothing matched some of the attire seen in the footage which was worn by someone standing close to where the shots were fired.

News imagePA Media Shows three men in separate photos side by side. The one on the left has dark hair and is wearing a black polo shirt. The one in the middle has grey hair and a grey beard. He is wearing a grey zip-up top with a blue and white checked shirt. The man on the right is bald and has a grey beard. He is wearing a blue Harrington back with a green grandad shirt. PA Media
(L-R) Jordan Devine, Peter Cavanagh and Paul McIntyre are all accused of the murder of Lyra McKee

It is the prosecution's case that the three men accused of murder had accompanied a lone gunman to the firing point on the night, and had encouraged or assisted him.

They have all denied the charges and declined to give evidence.

The non-jury trial opened in May 2024.

The prosecution case has been presented to the trial and the court is now hearing defence submissions.

In February, the trial judge, Mrs Justice Smyth, rejected a defence application that there was no case to answer.

Six other men from Derry face charges including rioting and throwing a petrol bomb.

They are: Joseph Barr, 37, of Sandringham Drive; Jude McCrory, 28, of Gartan Square; Joseph Anthony Campbell, 25, of Goshaden Cottages; Patrick Anthony Gallagher, 33, of John Field Place; Kieran George McCool, 57, of Ballymagowan Gardens; and Christopher Joseph Gillen, 45, of Balbane Pass.

All of them deny the charges. None of the men have given evidence in their defence.

One other defendant, William Patrick Elliott, 58, formerly of Ballymagowan Gardens, Derry, died last year.

The defence submissions are due to continue on Wednesday.