Journalist Lyra Mckee’s mother dies just weeks before the first anniversary of her daughter’s ‘murder’ during rioting in Derry

By James Wood For Mailonline

Published: 08:33 GMT, 11 March 2020 | Updated: 08:40 GMT, 11 March 2020

Lyra McKee’s mother has died just weeks before the first anniversary of her daughter’s murder. 

Joan Lawrie passed away in a Belfast hospital last night almost one year after her daughter was shot dead while observing a riot on Londonderry’s Creggan estate in April.

A family member said on Twitter: ‘My wee Mother In Law, passed away last night of a broken heart. Unable to live without her baby Lyra.

‘My Wee mother in law whom I loved with all my heart, I will love you to beyond eternity. Mother and daughter rest in forever peace. #Lyramckee#joanmcke .’

Ms McKee, 29, was shot dead by dissident republicans while observing a riot in the Creggan area

Ms McKee, 29, was shot dead by dissident republicans while observing a riot in the Creggan area

Lyra’s older sister, Nichola McKee Corner, also announced her mother’s death in a Facebook post this morning, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

She said: ‘It is with the greatest sadness that I share this. My mother, Joan Lawrie, passed away peacefully in hospital on 10th March.

‘She is now at peace with her beloved daughter Lyra McKee.’ 

Ms McKee was a gay rights activist and an articulate advocate of a new and more tolerant Northern Ireland and part of the generation which reached adulthood during peace time. She wrote for publications including Private Eye and Buzzfeed.

Her funeral was attended by then prime minister Theresa May, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Irish President Michael D Higgins at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.

Catholic priest Fr Martin Magill received a standing ovation when he asked why it took her death to unite politicians.

Days later the British and Irish governments announced a new talks process aimed at restoring devolution.

Powersharing was resurrected in January and the first same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland took place in February.

More to follow. 

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