Funeral of journalist Lyra McKee who was killed in Derry rioting to take place this afternoon
The President and Taoiseach will be among the hundreds of mourners attending the funeral of journalist Lyra McKee in Belfast today.
The 29-year-old’s funeral will take place in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, at 1pm this afternoon (Wednesday 24 April) and she will later be laid to rest in Carnmoney cemetery.
Journalist, author and gay rights activist Lyra McKee (29) was shot dead by the dissident republican group, the New IRA, during a disturbance in Derry last week.
Several hundred people are expected to attend the funeral service this afternoon, and those who are unable to get inside the cathedral will be able to hear the service broadcast from outside the building.
The chief mourners are Ms McKee’s mother Joan, her partner Ms Canning, her sisters Joan, Nichola and Mary, brothers Gary and David, nieces and nephews and a great-niece Ava. Ahead of her funeral this afternoon, Ms McKee's family issued a statement paying tribute to Ms McKee who was described as a 'friend to all, a gentle innocent soul who wouldn't wish ill on anyone.'
In their statement the family of Ms McKee said:
"On Thursday April 18 our beautiful Lyra was taken from us. A daughter, a sister, an aunt, a great-aunt, a partner, a niece, a cousin, and above all, a best friend and confidante to so many of us. A friend to all, a gentle innocent soul who wouldn't wish ill on anyone. Such a warm and innocent heart, she was the greatest listener, someone who had time for everyone.
"She was a smart, strong-minded woman who believed passionately in inclusivity, justice and truth. Lyra spoke to and made friends with anybody and everybody, no matter what their background, those of all political views and those with none. This openness, and her desire to bring people together, made her totally apolitical. We would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support and love we have witnessed this past few days. It has been of immense solace that Lyra meant so much to so many.
"We ask everyone who knew Lyra to continue her message of positivity and hope, by respecting her memory with dignity and respect. We as a family know that the whole community has been touched by the events of Thursday night and that many are rightly angry."
They then asked for her memory to be used as an example, and urged people to fight hatred with understanding and kindness.
"However, we would ask that Lyra's life and her personal philosophy are used as an example to us all as we face this tragedy together. Lyra's answer would have been simple, the only way to overcome hatred and intolerance is with love, understanding and kindness.
"We are a private family and would ask as a family that our privacy is respected at this impossibly difficult time. We will, in time, speak to you all, but need space and time in the coming days and weeks to deal with the trauma of Lyra's sudden tragic death. Until that time, we would request that all media contact could be made via our legal representatives."
Also attending will be the President Michael D Higgins, the Taoiseach Leo Vardakar, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveneyand the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone, British Prime Minister Theresa May, along with numerous political, community and church leaders, and friends of Ms McKee.
A GoFundMe page set up to help pay for Ms McKee's funeral costs and to support her family has so far amassed over £60,000.