Responding to the news that journalist Lyra McKee has been shot dead in Northern Ireland while reporting public disorder in Derry / Londonderry, Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland Programme Director of Amnesty International, said:

“All at Amnesty are utterly devastated at the news that Lyra McKee has been shot dead while carrying out her job as a journalist.

“Lyra was a great young journalist, whose commitment to truth was absolute and whose laughter could light up a room.

“The bitter irony was that Lyra was due to speak at an Amnesty International event at the Queen’s Film Theatre in Belfast on 4 May about the dangers of reporting violent conflicts.”

The event for World Press Freedom Day, was to involve a screening of A Private War, a film about war correspondents Marie Colvin and Paul Conroy, and a panel discussion on the dangers facing journalists, featuring Lyra McKee and photojournalist Kevin Cooper, chaired by Patrick Corrigan.

Patrick Corrigan added:

“Journalists put themselves on the frontline in the battle for truth every single day. Every day, it becomes more dangerous for reporters to do their job on behalf of us all.

“Lyra McKee was one of those courageous seekers after truth, with a life ahead of her and so much to give.

“Our thoughts are with Lyra’s partner, her family and many friends.”