Lyra McKee: Niall Sheerin jailed for having gun used to kill journalist

Lyra McKee was 29 when she was shot as she watched a riot in Londonderry

A man has been jailed for seven years for possessing the gun that police believe was used to kill journalist Lyra McKee.

Niall Sheerin, 29, from Tyrconnell Street in Londonderry, previously admitted possession of the gun on dates between September 2018 and June 2020.

He will spend seven years in prison followed by five years on licence.

Ms McKee, who was 29, was observing rioting in the Creggan estate in Derry when she was shot on 18 April 2019.

The judge at Belfast Crown Court said he believed Sheerin was an associate of a "serious terrorist gang who posed a danger to the public".

The dissident republican paramilitary group the New IRA has admitted carrying out the murder of Ms McKee.

The judge told the court that he was not sentencing Sheerin in connection with the murder.

He said that was because the "prosecution cannot establish to the requisite standard" that Sheerin was aware of the specific history of the weapon.

Sheerin had been charged with possessing the Hammerli X-Esse .22 pistol, a magazine and a quantity of .22 calibre cartridges.

The Hammerli X-Esse pistol was found during police searches in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry

The gun was found wrapped in plastic bags in a hollow behind a telegraph pole in a field in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry in 2020.

Bullets and a spent ammunition magazine were also discovered in the package.

Ballistics tests showed the pistol had been used in five shootings in the city in the previous 21 months, including the killing of Ms McKee.

Sheerin will be subject to terrorist notification requirements under the Terrorist Act for the next 15 years.

Speaking outside the court, Ms McKee's sister Nichola McKee-Corner said: "Now the story of the gun has come to an end but the story of the gunman actually continues."

She said she would like the gunman to have "the courage to come forward himself and accept responsibility for what he did".

She she conceded that that was "realistically probably not going to happen at this stage".

"We would again appeal to anyone who has information about the identity of the gunman to come forward and to help us gain full justice for Lyra," said Ms McKee-Corner.

"Justice isn't something that stands alone with the police service - justice is the whole business of the community."

Speaking later to BBC News NI, she added: "This is one stage of the process completed. Without that gun our Lyra would still be here.

"It is very important to have that stage completed, and to have that weapon off the streets and the handler off the streets.

"It makes our country a safer place for other people, hopefully has gone towards preventing other serious crimes and other deaths."

'Police inquiry very much active'

Speaking after Sheerin was sentenced, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said its investigation into Ms McKee's death remained "very much active".

"It's over three years now since that tragic day and the pain felt by Lyra's loved ones is understandably as raw as ever," said Det Sup Eamonn Corrigan.

"I'm keen to reassure the community that we remain committed to working with them and our partner agencies to stop the corrosive influence of terrorists.

"Our investigation into Lyra's murder, as demonstrated by today's sentencing, is very much active.

"We will work tirelessly to bring those responsible before the courts."

Three men are awaiting trial charged with Ms McKee's murder.