A non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court is hearing defence submissions in the case of journalist Lyra McKee's murder. McKee, 29, died from a bullet wound while standing near police vehicles during disturbances in Creggan, Derry, on April 18, 2019. The New IRA claimed responsibility for the shooting.

Three men face murder charges. They are Jordan Devine, 25, of Bishop Street, Londonderry; Peter Cavanagh, 37, of Mary Street, Derry; and Paul McIntyre, 58, of Kells Walk, Derry. All three deny the charges. Prosecutors state the men accompanied a gunman to the firing point and encouraged or assisted him. None of the three gave evidence.

Six other Derry men face charges of rioting and throwing petrol bombs. They are Joseph Barr, 37, of Sandringham Drive; Jude McCrory, 28, of Gartan Square; Joseph Anthony Campbell, 25, of Goshaden Cottages; Patrick Anthony Gallagher, 33, of John Field Place; Kieran George McCool, 57, of Ballymagowan Gardens; and Christopher Joseph Gillen, 45, of Balbane Pass. All deny the charges and have not given evidence.

William Patrick Elliott, 58, formerly of Ballymagowan Gardens, Derry, was a defendant but died last year. The trial opened in May 2024. In February 2024, trial judge Mrs Justice Smyth rejected a defence application to dismiss the case.

Eilis McDermott KC, representing Devine, stated the prosecution's case against him is wholly circumstantial. She noted the lack of witness identification, cell site analysis, forensic links to clothing or vehicles, and gait analysis. McDermott said a forensic image analyst's evidence is tenuous and identification evidence is weak. She rejected claims that Devine's clothing matched attire of a person near the shooting site in mobile phone footage.

Seamus McNeill KC, for Joseph Anthony Campbell, described the case against his client as weak. He pointed to limitations in imagery analysis and said there is no evidence Campbell is the only large person in Creggan.

Niall Hunt KC, representing Jude McCrory, addressed charges of riotous assembly and throwing petrol bombs. He noted a crowd had gathered before McCrory arrived with an MTV film crew and said a masked man speaking to McCrory at shops proves no prior acquaintance. Defence submissions continue on Wednesday.