Judgment Reserved in Lyra McKee Murder Trial

Judgment Reserved in Lyra McKee Murder Trial Judgment has been reserved in the long-running trial of three men accused of murdering journalist Lyra McKee, nearly two years after the non-jury trial began at Belfast Crown Court. The case, which centers on McKee’s death during rioting in Londonderry in April 2019, has heard extensive evidence from both prosecution and defense teams. The three defendants — Paul McIntyre, 58, Peter Cavanagh, 37, and Jordan Devine, 25 — are charged with murder on a joint enterprise basis. Prosecutors allege they accompanied and encouraged a gunman who fired toward police vehicles in the Creggan area on April 18, 2019, resulting in McKee being struck by a bullet while observing disturbances near police lines. Mrs Justice Smyth presided over the trial, which involved nine defendants in total facing 52 charges related to the unrest and prior street disorder. After hearing closing submissions from the defense, the judge emphasized the complexity of the case and her obligation to consider each defendant and each charge separately. “It’s important to note that each of the defendants is entitled to be treated separately,” Mrs Justice Smyth stated. “Each offence with which they are charged has to be considered separately and for that reason I can’t give a date at this stage for the final judgement. It will take me some time to give proper consideration to all of the points that have been made in this case – but this case will have my priority.” The New IRA claimed responsibility for McKee’s death following the incident. Throughout the trial, defense barristers have questioned the strength of the evidence, describing it as largely circumstantial and raising concerns about investigative practices. As of April 16, 2026, no date has been set for the delivery of verdicts in the case. The reserved judgment reflects the judge’s commitment to thorough deliberation in a matter of significant public and legal interest.