Government update on Northern Ireland situation following journalist's murder
23 April 2019 (updated on 23 April 2019)
Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley has updated the House of Commons on the situation following the murder of journalist Lyra McKee last Thursday night.
McKee was covering unrest in Derry/Londonderry, when she was shot dead by members of the 'New IRA'. The group has released a statement admitting responsibility for the killing whilst offering "full and sincere apologies".
There has been neither an Executive nor a fully-functioning Assembly in Northern Ireland since January 2017.
The Northern Ireland Secretary told the House:
"Today is not a day for party politics. Lyra was a young, vibrant woman who symbolised the new Northern Ireland [...] Our lasting tribute to Lyra must be to ensure that we continue to work for peace for the whole of Northern Ireland."
She went on to thank the police and medical staff who worked to try and save Lyra McKee while under attack.
Responding for the Opposition, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Tony Lloyd told MPs commended the cross-party solidarity expressed following the journalist's murder. He said that the wave of condemnation and response,
"sent a very stark message out to those people of violence who find themselves now isolated, find themselves so out of touch with the mood of the people of Derry."
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