IRA murder suspect in court.
 

Scuffles broke out today at Londonderry magistrates court as supporters of IRA murder suspect, Paul McKintyre, tried to block the entrance. Around 40 police officers were required to maintain safe access and egress to the court where the suspect was appearing to answer a charge of murdering journalist Lyra McKee, as well as firearms and terrorism offenses.

Board members may recall that Lyra McKee was shot dead whilst observing rioting by IRA supporters in Londonderry. Video footage shown on social media at the time appeared to show a gunman taking careful aim at McKee, contradicting some claims that she was accidently shot.

We'll see, eh?

And what possible reason would have made her the target? To be clear I've condemned dissident violence numerous times in these threads, but the suggestion they targeted a journalist who was virtually unknown prior to her murder makes no sense. The target were PSNI officers. The murder of a police officer would have been no less reprehensible, but it not would have generated the revulsion the killing Lyra McKee did.

My understanding is that McKee was an outspoken critic of sectarianism, that itself could make her a target of any paramilitary group.

As already mentioned, footage was shown on social media, I have seen it myself before it was taken down, of a gunman taking careful aim, not firing indiscriminately in to a crowd. Accidental killing would be the perfect blind. If the intention was to kill police, then the gunman would have kept firing until his gun was empty. She was shot once.

Yes, you have condemned dissident violence, but you can't seem to bring yourself to accept that all these alphabet soup groupings as you refer to them, are in fact, just the IRA.

Let's assume you're correct. It's all just the IRA. The Provos have never gone away, they are one and the same with the so called dissidents. ( we will temporarily ignore the fact that the security services on both sides of the border and your own intelligence service disagrees, )

Let's also assume your other oft stated view that Sinn Fein and the IRA are stilled joined at the hip is correct as well.

Perhaps then you can further enlighten us as to why the IRA planned to assassinate Michelle O'Neil and Gerry Kelly, the shooting of a prominent Republican in west Belfast , the bomb attack on Gerry Adam's house to name a few? Strange behaviors for allies.

In conventional political parties, disloyal party members get the party whip removed. In Sinn Fein/IRA you get offed.

Joan Lawrie, mother of Lyra McKee, has died according to a report on Sky News website. Lyra had been the main carer for Joan up until her death at the hands of a masked IRA gunman last year in Londonderry.