RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Lyra McKee was murdered in Derry on April 18, 2019
One of the men charged with the rioting on the night journalist Lyra McKee was shot dead and also with what the court heard were 'eight serious terrorist offences' has been refused permission to vary his bail.
Kieran McCool (54) of Ballymagowan Gardens in Derry is charged with rioting, throwing petrol bombs and assault on April 18 2019 when Ms McKee was shot.
He also faces various charges of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life and possessing articles of use to terrorists on dates between December 31 2015 and April 20 2021.
Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client suffered from ill health and had been on bail for the explosive offences since the early part of last year.
He added he had been on bail in relation to the Lyra McKee charges since October last.
The solicitor said that there had been no breaches of bail and went on to say the explosive cases may not be in a position to be dealt with until well into next year.
He added that due to McCool's health the bail conditions requiring him to observe a curfew, a tag and report to police were 'not proportionate or appropriate.'
A defence barrister said the police believed that the bail conditions were both 'necessary and appropriate.'
She said McCool was facing 8 serious terrorist offences as well as the charges relating to Lyra McKee.
She added that she did not see how McCool's medical conditions impacted on his observing a curfew, wearing a tag and reporting to police.
The barrister said that police had seen McCool 'out and about' in recent weeks.
She added that police believed that McCool was responsible for numerous explosive devices between 2015 and 2021 including one found at the home of a female member of the PSNI.
District Judge Barney McElholm ruled against granting the bail variation.
McCool will appear again for committal proceedings on the Lyra McKee charges on December 12 and the explosive cases were adjourned until December 14.
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