On January 23rd 2023, District Judge Magill ruled that the two additional individuals who were charged with Lyra's murder on 16th September 2021 would be sent to trial along with 6 other individuals charged with other offences on the night Lyra was murdered on18th April 2019. This is a significant breakthrough towards justice for Lyra.

 

Presently, there are three individuals charged with, and will stand trial for, Lyra's murder and 7 others who will stand trial for their role in events on the night of Lyra's murder.

 

The gunman continues to evade justice. The PSNI investigation into Lyra's murder continues to be very active.

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We launched a new campaign for justice for our Lyra on 31st March 2021. This day SHOULD HAVE been Lyra's 31st birthday.

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On this day, we launched our Justice4Lyra website, Facebook page and Twitter. These have all been very successful so far and have gained an international audience.

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In April, we erected billboards in Derry where Lyra was murdered. The billboards received attention from both local and national media outlets including: QRadio, BBC, UTV, The Belfast Telegraph and Derry News and many others.

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Later in April, in advance of the 2nd Anniversary of Lyra's murder, we sent letters to almost 8,000 homes in the Creggan and surrounding area appealing for information. This also received a lot of media attention.

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To raise awareness of our campaign, on Lyra's Anniversary, a digital portrait of Lyra created by her niece Beth was projected onto Belfast's Custom House Building and Lyric Theatre. Belfast City Council, Derry and Strabane Council and the City of Derry Airport also paid tribute to Lyra by lighting up their buildings in her honour throughout the week of her Anniversary. We are so grateful for the continued support we receive.

 

We have worked with Erica Starling Productions to create a feature-length documentary film wherein Lyra takes us with her on a journey through her short life.  It was shown for the first time in a joint screening: one in Belfast, Northern Ireland and one in Cork, Ireland. Both events were attended by a wide range of political officials, including the Taoiseach (Head of Government) of Ireland, the Tanaiste (Deputy Head of Government) of Ireland, the UK Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and a range of other national and local politicians. The aptly named documentary LYRA, has since won a range of International Awards and has attracted many 5 star reviews. Lyra is due to premiere in North America in early 2023 and continues to be shown in various locations in Europe, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK.

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As the gunman continues to evade justice, we would continue to encourage brave people with information and/or video footage that they feel may be relevant to our case - particularly the identity of the gunman - to continue to come forward. If you are unsure of the relevance of the information you have, share it anyway and let the autorities make that judgement.

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Lyra's murder investigation continues to be VERY ACTIVE and legal proceedings have begun. I am sure that you will understand that we are unable to comment about either of these at present. Do know that our family has been given great strength by the continued support of local, national and international communities to continue to persue JUSTICE FOR LYRA. #failureisnotanoption

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