‘Love is stronger than hatred’: Bishop pays tribute to journalist Lyra McKee

Lyra McKee, 29, was fatally shot while she was stood by a police van during riots on Thursday.

Detectives have released CCTV of the suspected gunman, dressed in black, who they think is linked to the dissident republican group – the New IRA.

 

Responding to news of the award-winning journalist’s death, Bishop Donal McKeown said: “This Good Friday morning there is a deep air of sadness hanging over this city. The murder of journalist Lyra McKee is causing widespread shock and revulsion.

“Our first thoughts and prayers are with Ms McKee’s family and friends who are terribly grieved by her killing.

“I have every confidence that the wider community will come together at this time to make clear our conviction that violence solves nothing.

 

“You cannot claim to love your country and, at the same time, cause death and pain to the people who live here. All who live here deserve to be cherished equally.

“That spirit of coming together against violence has brought us a long way in the last twenty years. It will continue today for we believe the original Good Friday message that love is stronger than hatred.”

 

An 18-year-old and 19-year-old have been arrested in connection with the murder under the terrorism act.

Meanwhile, former US President Bill Clinton has said he’s “heartbroken” by the violence and murder of the journalist.

 

In a tweet, he said the challenges in Northern Ireland today “are real” – and added that “we cannot let go” of the last 21 years of “hard-won peace and progress”.

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The Catholic Bishop of Derry has joined the flood of people paying tributes to the murdered journalist who was shot dead in Londonderry, Northern Ireland on Thursday night.