The man charged with murdering 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee last April shared a news story about the incident on social media, according to information obtained by The Desk.
Two days after McKee was shot while covering a riot in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 52-year-old Paul McIntyre shared a story from the Irish Times on his Facebook page that reported on the arrest of two men in connection with the journalist’s death.
Those men, identified only as an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old, were questioned and released without charge.
McKee was fatally shot in the head last April while covering a riot between police and supporters of the New IRA. Police circulated surveillance video and other media with a request that the public come forward with any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the journalist’s death.
Earlier this week, McIntyre was one of four people arrested by police in Northern Ireland in connection with McKee’s death. Two men were released after appearing at a prosecutor’s office and a third was released without charge.
Prosecutors announced a slew of criminal allegations against McIntyre on Wednesday, including charges of murder, possession of a firearm and membership in a political terror group.
On Thursday, a crowd of around four dozen supporters lined the street outside the a courthouse in Londonderry where McIntyre was to be arraigned. He emerged handcuffed from the back of an armored police van to the cheers of supporters, many of whom consider the suspect to be a scapegoat and political prisoner.
McIntyre remains in custody. His next court appearance is February 27.
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Disclosure: The author of this story was a personal friend of Lyra McKee.
