Former partner of journalist Lyra McKee hopes her death haunts her killer

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Former partner of journalist Lyra McKee hopes her death haunts her killerImage source, Sara CanningImage caption, Sara Canning, right, says she does not believe Lyra McKee's killer will ever face justiceByTeresa Craig and David Wilson, News NIPublished1 hour agoThe former partner of journalist Lyra McKee has said she hopes her death "haunts" her killer's "every waking minute". Lyra McKee was shot and killed when a dissident republican gunman opened fire during rioting in Londonderry on 18 April 2019. On Friday three men, Paul McIntyre, Peter Cavanagh and Jordan Devine, were found not guilty of her murder.

Sara Canning, Lyra's partner at the time of her killing, described the gunman as "pathetic", adding they were "showing off for the cameras" on the night she was fatally shot. Image caption, Sara Canning says Lyra's killer was "showing off" for the cameras"You've never contributed one thing to this world. What you did that night was pathetic," she said.

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"I hope you can't sleep at night… I hope it haunts your every waking minute. "On the night Lyra was killed an MTV crew were filming a documentary in Derry. However, the MTV camera crew had left the scene before the shooting took place.

During the trial, in footage played in court, TV presenter Reggie Yates could be heard saying: "If people are saying we're inciting it, then maybe we should call it a night. "Sara said the killer was "showing off for Reggie Yates - that's really pathetic". "It was showing off for cameras, it wasn't to free Ireland, it wasn't to make the life of people in Creggan and Derry and Ireland better.

"Image source, Brendan GallagherImage caption, Lyra McKee, a journalist, writer and campaigner, was shot and killed while observing rioting in Londonderry on 18 April 2019Lyra died after being hit by a bullet as she stood close to police vehicles while watching the disturbances in the Creggan area of Derry. Earlier, a police operation targeting dissident republican activity had been carried out nearby. Crowds had gathered and disorder followed after with petrol bombs being thrown at police and stolen vehicles set alight.

What Experts Say

Four gunshots were fired in the direction of police by a masked man. Lyra was shot and killed by a single bullet to the head. The New IRA, a dissident republican group, later said it carried out the killing.

'I know who the gunman is'Lyra's former partner told News NI she knows who the gunman is and knows "what he looks like". She added: "I don't possess the hate and the evil in me to hurt people the way that you do. "Friday's not guilty verdicts have been "gutting", said Sara.

It is difficult now, she added, to believe there will ever be justice for Lyra. That, she said, would require someone to have "a massive change of heart or we find some really compelling evidence".

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.