Lyra McKee murder accused 'no longer Saoradh member'

Lyra McKee was shot dead in Londonderry in April 2019

A man accused of murdering journalist Lyra McKee has said he is no longer associated with the dissident republican political party, Saoradh.

Peter Gearóid Cavanagh, 34, of Elmwood Terrace, Londonderry is charged with murdering Ms McKee on 8 April 2019.

He is also charged with further offences relating to rioting on the night Ms McKee was shot dead.

At the High Court in Belfast on Wednesday, an application to vary Mr Cavanagh's bail terms was dismissed.

He had been seeking to have an electronic tag removed and the curfew he is subject to lifted.

The court was told police had "significant concerns" about variations to Mr Cavanagh's bail conditions.

Opposing the application, a prosecution barrister said police thought Mr Cavanagh was "still involved in dissident republican activity and still linked to Saoradh".

Police believe it is the political wing of the New IRA.

The barrister told the Lady Chief Justice it was alleged Mr Cavanagh had escorted the gunman to the corner where he had fired from on the night Ms McKee was killed and had also thrown petrol bombs.

He said the shooting had been claimed by the New IRA and the weapon used had subsequently been recovered.

The court was told it had since been forensically linked to the murder as well as four other shootings.

'No longer a member of Saoradh'

Mr Cavanagh had been involved in protests both this year and in 2021, the court heard.

A defence lawyer told the court his client would deny any involvement in protests.

He said Mr Cavanagh "'was no longer a member of Saoradh' and no longer associated with the organisation.

The court heard that Mr Cavanagh had abided by his bail conditions and had only been charged in September 2021.

The bail conditions were impacting on his family life, the court was told.

Refusing the bail variation, Dame Siobhan Keegan said she has been told a committal hearing in the case would go ahead in January 2023.

She told the court she did not see any reason to vary Mr Cavanagh's bail and said the current conditions are "proportionate".