I stand with Lyra

Almost a week after her senseless and tragic death, journalist Lyra McKee was laid to rest yesterday. The 29-year-old’s untimely death, much like many who died during the Troubles in the North, is difficult to comprehend.

How a young woman, similar to my own age, went out the door that day to her remit of on the ground reporting, only to never return home that night, is incomprehensible.

Although there are some small similarities between myself and Lyra, both being journalists of the same generation, in reality the differences in our job descriptions are stark. My head was turned by journalism mainly through my love of sport, the political landscape was always one I have largely avoided and, lucky for me, the Cork Independent has had a steady flow of political-savvy writers through its doors for as long as I’ve been here.

To be a good journalist you need two things, an inquisitive head and a passion. One does not work without the other and you won’t be long left hanging behind as, whether it be politics, sport or otherwise, Ireland has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to ground-breaking journalism and a wealth of brilliant newspapers who allow the writers to tell the story and their truth, day in and day out.

I didn’t know Lyra but I’ve read a lot about her since her death. She seemed a kind and caring woman and a talented writer. She was a credit to this sometimes muddled world of journalism, and she should still be with us here today, working for change as part of an ever-evolving circle of Irish journalists who are simply doing their bit in helping Ireland be the very best it can be.

One of the articles I read was written by Lyra herself where she spoke about growing up in Northern Ireland. She said: “The Ceasefire Babies was what they called us. Those too young to remember the worst of the terror because we were either in nappies or just out of them when the Provisional IRA ceasefire was called.”

Like Lyra, I grew up in a time that had left the worst of the Troubles behind. Thankfully, I’ve never been in any sort of risk while covering a story for work - political riots, that bring weapons and war, feel a world away from Derry and their neighbours here on Leeside.

A group calling themselves the New IRA admitted responsibility for Lyra’s death and said in a statement to the Irish News: “We have instructed our volunteers to take the utmost care in future when engaging the enemy, and put in place measures to help ensure this. In the course of attacking the enemy Lyra McKee was tragically killed while standing beside enemy forces.”

I find that statement so hard to stomach. The New IRA had the nerve to address the “enemy” in the same statement they speak of their regret of Lyra’s death, who died as an innocent bystander when one of their members callously opened fire on her and others.

What did anyone do to deserve that fate? Lyra deserved better, the North deserves better. Lyra’s family said that she believed in inclusivity, justice and truth, a total contradiction to the values of those that murdered her.

The island of Ireland and those that make it brilliant will continue to tell Lyra's story - she will never be forgotten.