Lyra Catherine McKee (/ˈlɪərə məˈkiː/[1] 31 March 1990 – 18 April 2019)[2] was a journalist from Northern Ireland who wrote for several publications about the consequences of the Troubles.

[5] She studied online journalism at Birmingham City University under Paul Bradshaw,[7] pursuing a Master of Arts degree, but did not graduate.

[8] She was posthumously awarded an MA in online journalism in January 2020; her sister, Nichola Corner, accepted the degree on her behalf.

[21][25] She gave a TEDx talk, "How uncomfortable conversations can save lives", at TEDxStormont Women in 2017, about the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting.

[29][30] Violence broke out after police raids on dissidents with the aim of seizing munitions ahead of the Easter Rising commemorative parades due to take place in the area that weekend.

[38] A vigil at the site of her killing held on 19 April was attended by Colum Eastwood, Arlene Foster, Naomi Long and Mary Lou McDonald.

A second vigil was held in Belfast City Hall, and was attended by author Anna Burns and John O'Doherty of the Rainbow Project, an LGBT rights charity in Northern Ireland.

[31] British Prime Minister Theresa May called the killing "shocking and senseless", saying McKee "died doing her job with great courage".

The attack was condemned by religious leaders of many denominations, including Ken Good, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe; Diarmuid Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin; Donal McKeown, Catholic Bishop of Derry; and Charles McMullen, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

[39] Other public figures to express condolences include Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and former US President Bill Clinton.

[47] On 25 April, the crime prevention charity Crimestoppers offered a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the killing.

[49] Leona O’Neill, a fellow Derry journalist who witnessed and wrote about McKee's killing, later received online threats, alleging that she was responsible, or had invented her account of the shooting.

[52] In early June 2020, the murder weapon, a Hämmerli X-Esse .22 LR pistol, was recovered by police from the Ballymagroarty area of Derry.

[55] On 10 March 2023, two men appeared in court by video, before Mr Justice O'Hara, charged with McKee's murder, with possessing a handgun and ammunition with intent, and with offences connected to the riot, all of which they denied.

[57] McKee, and her friends' attempt to get a conviction after her death, are the subject of a documentary film, The Real Derry Girls, made by Peter Taylor for the BBC.