“Help us get justice for Lyra.”
The PSNI has said that anonymity will be given to witnesses who come forward with information relating to the murder of journalist Lyra McKee.
McKee was shot dead while observing a riot in Derry on 18 April, with the dissident group, the New IRA claiming responsibility.
Police said the decision to offer anonymity follows discussions with the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
In a statement on social media, the PSNI said:
Help us get justice for Lyra!
On Thursday 18th April 2019 Lyra McKee was shot dead on the streets of Creggan.
The person behind the gun gave no thought to the consequences of pulling that trigger or the danger they were putting the whole community in.
You have been united in your response. Rightly, you have condemned this violence. You have challenged the threats and intimidation that hang over your community.
We need your help and we understand that for some, fear and intimidation feel very real. If we cannot challenge those feelings, we will resign ourselves to a future of indiscriminate violence.
People know the gunman and his associates. They know what happened before and after the shots were fired.
After liaison with the Public Prosecution Service we can confirm that, for the purpose of this investigation, anonymity will be provided to witnesses of the murder and the activities of the gunman. Witnesses will be referred to as Witness A, B, C etc and your identity will be revealed only to the Public Prosecution Service.
As a witness you may not be required to give evidence in court but if you are, we will request the maximum protection. This can include options such as anonymity, giving evidence by video link, from behind screens and with voice distortion. We have no intention of placing witnesses at risk.
We need evidence about the gunman and his associates. Not rumour. Not speculation. Not gossip. We need first hand evidence or camera footage to identify and bring the gunman and others who were involved in Lyra’s murder to justice.
We stand right alongside you as part of the community. Together we have an opportunity to bring a meaningful and lasting change.
Please pick up the phone and share what information you have. The investigation team is happy to meet with you directly or you can pass information to the team by phoning 101. You can also share details of what you know, or any phone footage or images to the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP.police.uk).
Please help us to bring this violence to an end.
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