The words are difficult today.
Very difficult.
Usually, that means I find an excuse to do something else.
Today isn’t that day.
Today I have to mark the passing of someone truly special.
Last night Irish journalism lost a gem on the streets of Creggan and I lost a dear friend.
This isn’t a long obituary, because I can hear Lyra telling me to get on with it!
As a 29 year old her fourteen-year-old self would have been amazed at how far she had come.
Those of us who knew her also knew how far she had to go.
Her personal testimony as a “Ceasefire Baby” and coming out as a gay woman in her community was raw, honest and empowering.
She had so much more to give.
The people who took her life last night have nothing to offer the people of Derry or the population of this small island.
My initial emotional response on Twitter to the news of her death was visceral.
Here is the picture that her family released.
In her WhatsApp profile, Lyra used a selfie of her in London under signs to “Aldgate Station” and “Sandy’s Row Synagogue”.
The Belfast girl saw the humour of a Jewish place of worship in the Loyalist area of her home place.
In the picture, she’s pointing up to the sign with her distinctive cheeky smile.
It was just her.
The last time she called me I was trudging up my hill and I wasn’t in the best of form.
The phone danced in my pocket and the last thing I needed was to hear from anyone
I flicked the screen and it was herself pointing up at the street sign.
She wanted to speak to me about matters authoring.
“HI PAL!”
She was herself.
Indeed, she was always herself.
After the chat, I put the phone back in my pocket and I was in a better frame of mind.
Lyra did that for folk just by being herself.
The people who took her from us can only bring pain and loss if they continue.
Her name was Lyra McKee.
My thoughts today are with her partner Sara and Lyra’s family.
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No words can describe the death of a young and talented Lyra Mckee, may she rest in peace.
I’m so saddened your & the whole of Ireland’s loss.
Rest in Peace young Lyra.
A sad day not just for her family but for the world of journalism.
Tragically, some people are still playing out the empty acts of a historical drama which has no place in modern Europe.
We have to move beyond this, before more lives are lost.
Deepest sympathies to the McKee family and Lyra’s friends, yourself included. Beyond that your tweet covers it.
Brilliant piece of writing
22 years ago today (Good Friday), agreement was reached that would devolve power away from Westminster, and hand that power to Stormont. As part of that Agreement, the IRA decided that it was time to disarm, and the Unionist paramilitaries duly followed suit. From that day on, there was, at last, a peace – an uneasy one, for sure – but peace nonetheless.
Now, roll forward to present day Northern Ireland… Brexit seems to be doing more to unify the island of Ireland than political gerrymandering could ever have dreamed was possible, so why now?.. why was this young lady senselessly gunned down?
Phil – I sense that Lyra was a “daughter” to you, and I may be correct in assuming that, in some way, you were mentoring her. I understand your sense of loss. Thoughts and prayers are with her, her family, her loved ones, her partner, and others whose lives were enriched by her presence. Let her senseless death not be in vain.
Thoughts are with her family and loved ones,so sad,so young,just so wrong.
Fitting tribute Phil,very well said.☮️
What do these b*stards think that they can possibly achieve through violence ? I could never condone fighting for a ”cause” by shooting people , innocent or otherwise . Violence begets violence !