Hearing for Lyra McKee murder accused may not take place until next year

Londonderry Magistrates Court, sitting in Coleraine, was told that a proposed date in November, during the Crown Court recess, was unlikely to provide enough time for the hearing.

Paul McIntyre (52) of Kinnego Park, is charged with the murder of Lyra McKee, possessing a firearm with intent and belonging to a prescribed organisation.

He is further charged, along with 39-year-old Christopher Gillen, of Balbane Pass, with throwing and possessing petrol bombs, hijacking, arson and rioting on April 18 last year.

The mixed committal hearing had originally been listed for hearing in June, however it was adjourned due to disclosure issues and concerns the judge had raised about holding the contested hearing via videolink.

The hearing is expected is to last five days and at least five witnesses will be required to give evidence.

Defence QC for McIntyre, Mark Mulholland, told the court “realistically the new year may be more suitable”.

He said both he and the prosecutor are involved in a long running case which is at hearing and it likely to be until the end of the year.

The barrister said they might be in a better position to fix a date on the next occasion the case is mentioned.

District Judge Ted Magill said he was aware “everyone is anxious to expedite this matter but the massive spanner that is Covid-19 has really jammed up everything” in the court system.

“We don’t know what the next few weeks or months will hold and we can’t realistically make any plans quicker than that.”

The case will be mentioned on September 28.