This week’s episode of the United Ireland podcast heads to County Derry and explores the murder of Lyra McKee. Una Mullally speaks to Lyra’s partner Sara Canning who talks about the night Lyra was murdered and how her death impacted her, her community, and Derry itself.

On April 18, 2019, journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead during rioting in the Creggan area of Derry.

Three months on from her murder, various people who had been arrested in connection with McKee’s murder including two teenagers and a 57 year-old woman have been released without charge.

The police investigation continues, with the head offices of political republican group Saoradh being searched in connection with McKee’s murder a month after the shooting.

https://twitter.com/UnaMullally/status/1151410531976323073

When asked if she thought the shooting would change anything in politically Northern Ireland, Canning said:

“All the politicians have been making the right noises towards me. I have conversations with everyone from Mary Lou McDonald right the way through to Arlene Foster and people in between and some people are better than others in terms of their engagement and their grasp on reality and the reality that their constituents live in.

“The rest of the UK is 5 years ahead of us in terms of equal marriage and 50 years ahead of us in terms of bodily autonomy. ‘Holy Catholic Ireland’, who no-one would ever have believed, has now legalised same-sex marriage and has abortion provision and we’re still languishing here in the North, we have nothing.”

Protesters and friends of murdered journalist Lyra McKee placed red hand prints on the walls of a dissident republican group in Derry.

More on this story here: https://t.co/dVWIFmfyz9 pic.twitter.com/RKitS6BeR5

— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 23, 2019

The podcast also discusses the protests that emerged as a response to Lyra’s murder. One of Lyra’s friends Sinéad Quinn talks about the extremely powerful gesture conducted by friends of Lyra placing red hand prints on Saoradh’s office in Derry.

Speaking about the episode, United Ireland posted on their Patreon saying:

“This episode examines the legacy of an incredibly talented young journalist murdered in her prime, and what it’s really like to grow up in a place where things like this happen, and how Derry is potentially on the precipice of even more difficulties with Brexit looming. But it’s also about a place of tremendous spirit, creativity, humour and resilience.

“We’d like to especially thank Sara for being so honest and generous with her time while she is still grieving her partner. Rest in Power, Lyra.”

Listen to United Ireland podcast Episode 9: Derry wherever you get your podcasts or on Soundcloud.