PSNI officer recalls how he tried to save life of Lyra McKee during Creggan riots

A police officer today (Wednesday) recalled how he tried in vain to save the life of journalist Lyra McKee whilst she was being rushed to hospital in the back of a police vehicle.

The constable was one of a number of officers called to give evidence at her murder trial in Belfast Crown Court.

The 29-year old journalist and author died after she was struck in the head by a bullet as she stood beside a police Land Rover parked on Fanad Drive observing a riot in the Creggan Estate on the evening of April 18, 2019.

After being called to the witness box, the constable confirmed he was a rear seat passenger in one of four Land Rovers parked in a box formation on Fanad Drive.

He said that shortly after 11pm, he heard a radio transmission alerting him that police had "come under fire" followed by the sounds of screaming from outside his vehicle.

The constable told the non-jury hearing "there was a commotion, I couldn't actually see what was going on" and that after two colleagues exited the Land Rover, he opened the rear door of the vehicle.

When he was asked by a Crown barrister what happened next and what he could see, the constable said: "Members of the public were carrying a female towards my vehicle and placed her in he rear of my vehicle.

"At the time she was unconscious. She was motionless and appeared to have a wound to her head, a small wound."

The prosecutor asked if a decision was then made to take her to Altnagelvin Hospital and he replied: "It appeared she needed medical attention.

"Myself and my colleague in the rear of the vehicle ... it was clear this female wasn't breathing and we carried out CPR in the rear of the vehicle."

"We continued with chest compressions and rescue breaths right until the time we got to Altnagelvin Hospital."

When he was asked what happened when the Land Rover arrived at the hospital, the constable said: "We lifted her out of our vehicle and onto the trolley and she was taken into the A&E."

Footage recorded on police cameras which showed the fatally wounded Ms McKee being placed into the back of the police vehicle was also played during today's trial.

She was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Altnagelvin.

Three Derry men have been charged with her murder, possessing a firearm and ammunition and other linked offences including rioting and both possessing and throwing petrol bombs.

The trio are Paul McIntyre (56) from Kells Walk, 23-year old Jordan Devine from Bishop Street and Peter Cavanagh (35) from Mary Street.

It's the Crown's case that whilst none of these three defendants were the gunman who fired the fatal shot that killed Ms Kee, their actions at the scene "are demonstrative of their involvement in the joint enterprise to possess and fire the weapon with the requisite intent for murder."

Seven co-accused, also from Derry, are facing charges including rioting and throwing petrol bombs.

They are Christopher Gillen (43) from Balbane Pass, Joseph Campbell (23) from Gosheden Gardens, 32-year old Patrick Gallagher from John Field Place, Jude McCrory (26) from Gartan Square, Joseph Barr (36) from Sandringham Drive, 55-year old Kieran McCool from Ballymagowan Gardens and William Elliot (57), who is also from Ballymagowan Gardens.

All ten defendants have denied the charges levelled against them.

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