New IRA admits carrying out cowardly murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry

The New IRA has admitted responsibility for the murder of journalist Lyra McKee in Londonderry.

Miss McKee, 29, died as a result of injuries sustained when she was shot on the Creggan estate on April 18.

The gunman was aiming at police in the Creggan area during disturbances ahead of the Easter Weekend when he hit the journalist from Belfast.

Journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead by the New IRA in Londonderry during a riot last week (AFP/Getty Images)

Lyra McKee murder cops say over 140 people have contacted them in hunt for 'New IRA killer'  

Police in Northern Ireland have now revealed how Lyra McKee murder cops say over 140 people have contacted them in hunt for 'New IRA killer' in the Republican stronghold of Creggan have sent them Lyra McKee murder cops say over 140 people have contacted them in hunt for 'New IRA killer' in a bid to track down the killer.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill has said the dissident Republicans responsible for the murder are caught in an antiquated time warp and that they are anti-peace and anti-community.

Locals in the Nationalist stronghold of Creggan where Ms McKee was shot have taken their anger out on those still wanting to take up arms to further the Republican cause by defacing slogans supporting the IRA.

Graffitit that had said “IRA Undefeated Army, Unfinished Revolution” has now been changed to: “IRA are done. Defeated Army. Finished Revolution.”

A pedestrian walks past graffiti that has been amended to read "IRA are done. Defeated Army" instead of "IRA undefeated Army" in the Creggan area of Derry (AFP/Getty Images)

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In a statement given to The Irish News using a recognised code word, the New IRA offered "full and sincere apologies" to her family and friends.

The New IRA is an amalgam of armed groups opposed to the peace process and it recently claimed responsibility for parcel bombs sent to London and Glasgow in March.

Police believe the violence was orchestrated in response to an earlier search by officers aimed at averting imminent trouble associated with this week's anniversary of the Easter Rising.

The statement said: "On Thursday night following an incursion on the Creggan by heavily armed British crown forces which provoked rioting, the IRA deployed our volunteers to engage.

Lyra McKee pals in tense 'blood on your hands' protest at building linked to New IRA

Friends of Lyra McKee were involved in tense standoff with dissident republicans during protest in Belfast on Monday (Cate McCurry/PA Wire)

"We have instructed our volunteers to take the utmost care in future when engaging the enemy, and put in place measures to help ensure this.

"In the course of attacking the enemy Lyra McKee was tragically killed while standing beside enemy forces.

"The IRA offer our full and sincere apologies to the partner, family and friends of Lyra McKee pals in tense 'blood on your hands' protest at building linked to New IRA for her death."