United Kingdom: Journalist Lyra McKee killed

PEN International is shocked and deeply saddened by the news that Lyra McKee, a 29-year-old journalist, was shot and killed in Northern Ireland last night while covering rioting in Derry. McKee was a young, passionate and courageous journalist, described as a ‘tireless advocate and activist’ for the LGBTI community.

Responding to the news, Salil Tripathi, chair of PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee, said:

‘Lyra McKee was a brave, courageous young woman in every sense. She took on sectarian violence by observing and reporting it, tragically falling victim to a bullet last night. She confronted religious orthodoxy on sexuality and equality, and believed in life, celebrating and affirming it. She had immersed herself in stories from Northern Ireland and had been rightly acclaimed as a person to watch. So much lay ahead of her, and so profound is our loss in her murder. I grieve her passing.’

The police have launched a murder enquiry. PEN International calls for a thorough investigation and will be following developments closely.

For further details contact Aurélia Dondo at PEN International, Koops Mill, 162-164 Abbey Street, London, SE1 2AN, UK Tel: +44 (0) 20 7405 0338 email: Aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org