Heartbroken friends have helped raise more than €35,000 in memory of murdered journalist Lyra McKee in the hours after her death.
In the wake of the North Belfast woman’s killing, a GoFundMe page was set up to assist with funeral expenses and to help honour her legacy.
Within 10 hours the appeal, started by Michael Harris and Padraig Reidy, had collected €35,609 and the current total now stands at €53,458 as of this morning.
A statement on the page said: “I had the pleasure to know Lyra, who was one of the nicest, smartest and most decent people I have ever met.
“Lyra was part of a new generation of Northern Irish journalists [and young people] who had moved past sectarian identities and wanted to build a more progressive, more peaceful Northern Ireland.
“Lyra was a powerful advocate for LGBTI rights, civil liberties and human rights. Lyra was also an incredible investigative journalist.
"She was in Forbes 30 Under 30 List, had a growing international reputation and was working on her second book.
Two men arrested in connection with murder of Belfast journalist Lyra McKee in Derry
"I had the pleasure to get to know Lyra through her working on the grassroots campaign to reform the law of libel in Northern Ireland.
"Lyra was a passionate defender of press freedom and exposing the truth.”
To make a donation or for more information click here.
