Lyra McKee's partner says law changes 'bittersweet'
- Published
Sara Canning, centre, taking part in a rally Belfast earlier this year
The partner of murdered journalist Lyra McKee has said it is bittersweet that changes to abortion and same-sex marriage laws came about because of politicians' inaction.
Sara Canning welcomed the changes that came into effect after a deadline to restore devolution passed.
She said an attempt to prevent legislative change was "sickening, disgraceful and pitiful".
"I have lost so much respect for so many of the leaders," she added.
Political parties in Northern Ireland are failing people and need to take a "long hard look at themselves," she said.
"The fact some sections of our politicians were willing to drag Stormont back and create a petition five days before the deadline in order to stop women having reproductive rights is absolutely sickening, disgraceful and pitiful," Ms Canning said.
Lyra McKee was observing rioting in Londonderry's Creggan estate when she was shot
Her partner Lyra McKee was shot dead while observing rioting in Londonderry's Creggan estate on 18 April.
Her murder led to an outpouring of grief and calls for politicians in Northern Ireland to return to powersharing, two-and-a-half years after the government of the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin collapsed.
Ms Canning said in the aftermath of her partner's murder she had "lots of political leaders make lots of promises and say lots of very soothing words".
She said they failed to deliver on promises they made to her.
"They have delivered precisely nothing," she said. "It is pitiful and everyone of them should be ashamed.
"I have lost so much respect for so many of the leaders; I have let many of them know that.
"We need people less entrenched in orange and green.
"So many of us, as Lyra said, are not interested in a stronger union or a united Ireland but are interested in a better future."
Sara Canning is trying to build a life "different to before" after the murder of her partner
She welcomed the changes to abortion and same-sex marriage laws.
"It is hugely bittersweet, Lyra and I wanted to be married and we didn't particularly want to be civil partnered," she said.
"We could have got married in the north, had our friends and families around us, been equal citizens, under our own political system as opposed to having to go to the south then come back across the border to only be civil partnered."
She said six months after Ms McKee's murder she was trying "to build a life that is different to the one before."
- Published22 October 2019
- Published18 May 2019
