Motion no: 7
Congress notes the murder of NUJ member, journalist and activist Lyra McKee by the self-styled New IRA in Creggan, Derry on 18th April 2019.
The murder of a worker in the line of duty evoked outrage across the world. The fact
that Lyra was a young, accomplished journalist and author with a promising career, and an inveterate campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights added to the poignancy of her killing.
In her own words, Lyra McKee was a child of the Good Friday Agreement. In her work she sought to promote equality, social solidarity and inclusivity and highlighted the failure of political leadership in Northern Ireland. Through her work, Lyra shone a light into issues all too
often missing from public discourse, including mental health, suicide and LGBTQ+ inequality in Northern Ireland.
Congress salutes those who stood up to
those responsible for the murder of Lyra McKee and commends in particular the union activists who organised vigils and protests in the wake of the murder.
Mindful of the public response to calls for political leadership Conference reaffirms its commitment to the principles underpinning the Good Friday Agreement and resolves to organise protests calling for the disbandment of paramilitary groups.
Congress commends the work of the Northern Ireland committee and the staff of the Belfast office in promoting the Better Work Better Lives campaign and acknowledges the dignified manner in which Lyra’s murder was marked at May Day events in Belfast, Derry and other locations.
Congress resolves that the most appropriate way in which the legacy of Lyra McKee can be celebrated is through giving priority to the issues which she cherished, including the achievement of equality for LGBTQ+ people, mental health and the provision of adequate resources to tackle the issue of suicide in our communities.
