Lyra McKee murder accused denied pub job bail change

Journalist Lyra McKee was 29 when she died after being struck by a bullet during rioting in the Creggan area

A man accused of murdering journalist Lyra McKee has failed in a bid to have his bail conditions changed so he could work in a pub.

Jordan Gareth Devine, 26, from Bishop Street, Londonderry, is charged with murdering Ms McKee on 18 April 2019.

He faces further charges relating to rioting on the night Ms McKee was shot dead.

On Friday, a judge at Belfast Crown Court refused to extend Mr Devine's nightly curfew to allow him to work part-time in a bar in Derry.

Madam Justice McBride said: "If he was to take up this employment, I think there is an increased risk that he would be in contact, potentially with the co-accused... but I think there is also a concern that he will come into contact with others who may lead him into further offending."

A prosecution barrister told the court police believed the bar in question was associated with dissident republican political party Saoradh.

The barrister said Mr Devine had his bail situation "reviewed repeatedly" and the current conditions, including the 23:00 to 07:00 local time curfew, have been "very carefully thought out".

She told the court another of Mr Devine's bail conditions was having no contact with his co-accused outside of the trial proceedings, adding that condition could be breached if he worked in the bar.

Mr Devine's employment in the bar, she said, could heighten a risk of further offending "specifically of a dissident republican nature."

'Perfectly legitimate purpose'

A defence barrister told the court Mr Devine's request for a variation was for a "perfectly legitimate purpose", adding it would "allow him to take up gainful employment" and earn some money for his family in the run-up to Christmas.

The barrister said there had been neither breaches of bail nor any re-offending since Mr Devine was first bailed in September 2021.

Madam Justice McBride said it was "commendable" Mr Devine was seeking work, but added "the difficulty in this case is the place of employment and those who might be present at that place of employment".

She said the court "may take a different approach to the curfew conditions" if a similar application was made in relation to employment in an alternative place.

At present, the non-jury trial is subject to legal applications and all nine of the accused on are bail.