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10 July 2019 11:08 AM

Lyra McKee’s partner ‘heartbroken’ that late journalist didn’t live to see marriage equality in Northern Ireland

The Attitude Pride Award winner was tragically shot during a rally in Derry back in April

By Steve Brown

Words: Steve Brown

Lyra McKee’s partner Sara Canning says she is ‘heartbroken’ that late journalist didn’t live to see marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

Back in April, journalist Lyra and her partner Sara were observing rioting in Derry, Northern Ireland, when tragically Lyra was shot and killed.

Her death shocked the entire UK and her funeral was attended by the likes of DUP leader Arlene Foster, PM Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

After her funeral, Sara used her platform to push for marriage equality in Northern Ireland – the only territory in the UK that does not recognise same-sex marriages – as she revealed she was planning to marry her partner before she was killed.

And now, yesterday (July 9), Westminster Parliament backed marriage equality in Northern Ireland and voted that it would be introduced to the country by as early as October, unless there is a power-sharing executive formed at Stormont.

And while being ‘over the moon’ about the push by Parliament, Sara admitted she is ‘heartbroken’ because she is unable to marry the person she wanted to marry.

Sara told Channel 4 News: “I’m torn between over the moon for my friends who will be able to, hopefully should this pass down the line, marry their partners and feel like an equal part of society.

“I’m also heartbroken because the person I wanted to marry isn’t here to see it happen and I know it was something Lyra was very passionate about.

“She went to the marriage equality marches and she was excited about the future and seeing it pass in Northern Ireland.”

You can watch Sara and Lyra’s story from the Attitude Pride Awards below:

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