
Police have released CCTV footage of a masked gunman suspected of having shot dead young journalist Lyra McKee as she covered rioting in Londonderry last night.

The footage shows the 29-year-old in the crowd lifting her phone to take pictures moments before she was killed.

As the footage moves on a masked gunman is shown lurking near the corner of a nearby building. The man is then spotted later on in the same area just moments before he takes aim at officers.

Police in Ireland are now on the hunt for the masked gunman and have called the killing of Lyra 'senseless and appalling'.

A senior detective leading the case has said the only way to find those responsible is if the community helps, Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: 'People saw the gunman and people saw those who goaded young people out onto the streets, people know who they are.

'The answers to what happened last night lie within the community. I am asking people to do the right thing for Lyra McKee, for her family and for the city of Derry/Londonderry and help us stop this madness.'

He added that her death was 'senseless and appalling beyond belief' and highlighted that it represents the tragic loss of promise and loss of potential.

'However it should not be the loss of hope. We know that the people of Creggan do not support what happened and they stand with us today in outrage and disgust at the mayhem that took place on their streets last night. '

Ms McKee, who had extensively covered the legacy of the Troubles, in a new picture released by her family today

A map which shows the timings of the riots in Londonderry. At 11pm Miss McKee was shot in the head by a gunman firing

Images takes from a police video show Lyra McKee standing in the crowd watching the protest in Londonderry last night

Other images released by the police highlighted people who could possibly be involved with the shooting

The masked gunman is later spotted at the corner of a building (pictured above, picture issued bu PSNI)

Dissident republicans have been blamed by police for the murder of journalist Lyra McKee (pictured right, with girlfriend Sara Canning), who was shot dead while covering a riot in Londonderry last night

Police have urged those who have footage to send it directly to them, in order to aid their investigation and prevent further distress to Lyra's family and the local community.

Earlier today Sara Canning, the girlfriend of Lyra, who was shot dead while covering a riot in Londonderry, called for peace so that her beloved partner's death is 'not in vain'.

Ms Canning paid tribute to 29-year-old partner today in front of hundreds of people attending a vigil in her memory and described her killing as a 'senseless murder'.

Ms McKee, 29, was hit by a stray bullet after a masked gunman opened fire towards a crowd of police officers and bystanders at around 11pm, as republican dissidents rioted in the city's Creggan estate.

Police in Northern Ireland confirmed they are hunting 'multiple suspects' after they blamed the New IRA for the murder of the journalist.

Photos from last night show the violence escalating as petrol bombs are thrown in the direction of police as a nearby crowd watches

Footage on social media could aid police in the search for the gunman who opened fire at officers last night. Police have urged members of the public to come forward with any footage or information they may have

Ms McKee's devastated partner Ms Canning, centre, paid tribute to her in front of hundreds of people at a vigil near the scene of the shooting, and said her partner's 'amazing potential was snuffed out by a single barbaric act'

Lyra McKee, 29, (shown left,at the wedding of close friend Matthew Hughes) is believed to have been hit by a stray bullet after a gunman opened fire indiscriminately at around 11pm

Speaking at the vigil, Ms Canning said: 'It has left so many friends without their confidante. Victims and LGBTQI community are left without a tireless advocate and activist and it has left me without the love of my life, the woman I was planning to grow old with are all passed in the loss of Lyra.

'Our hopes and dreams and all of her amazing potential was snuffed out by this single barbaric act.

'This cannot stand, Lyra's death must not be in vain because her life was a shining light in everyone else's life and her legacy will live on and the life that she has left behind.'

Tonight the latest winner of the Man Booker prize has paid a tearful tribute to a murdered Belfast journalist.

Milkman author Anna Burns was among hundreds who turned out at Belfast City Hall for a vigil to Lyra McKee and stood for a minute's silence, which was followed with applause.

The books of condolence for Ms McKee was brought to the front steps of the building after the doors were officially closed for the night to allow those waiting in a long queue to sign it.

A smiling photograph of the 29-year-old journalist gazed across the rainbow flag-draped table which held two condolence books for well wishers to sign as well as a small posy of forget-me-nots.

Those attending were asked to talk to each other in memory of Ms McKee who they were reminded, loved conversations.

John O'Doherty of the Rainbow Coalition read out Ms McKee's 'Letter To My 14-year-old Self', in which she had written evocatively about facing challenging times at school and the moment she came out as gay to her mother, and relief when her mother embraced her.

Next three friends of Ms McKee's, who had been due to meet her for dinner that evening, shared their memories of their friend.

Michele Devlin, Anna Burns and Alison Miller supported each other as they tearfully addressed the vigil.

Ms Burns described Ms McKee as a 'dear, dear friend' that she had met through their mutual publisher Faber and Faber.

'It's absolutely wonderful that you are all here for Lyra,' she told the crowd, many of whom held candles.

'She was just so helpful and generous, her wee heart was always open.'

Police also revealed today the New IRA was 'most likely' behind the killing, and that Ms McKee was a 'completely innocent bystander' who was struck accidentally as the gunman aimed towards uniformed officers.

Saoradh, a political party that reflects New IRA thinking, released a statement blamed the murder on an 'incursion' by 'heavily armed crown forces' in the Creggan estate, and that the gunman was 'attempting to defend people' from police officers.

Rioting had erupted following raids by police, who said they were trying to prevent militant attacks planned for Easter weekend, a time when dissidents are traditionally active due to the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Irish and British politicians widely condemned the murder today, with the city mayor John Boyle claiming: 'It doesn't matter if you call it Derry of Londonderry; this city is united with one voice... against this heinous murder.'

Residents of the area walking past a sign today which read 'IRA are done'. Police have been continuing their investigations today

A single bunch of flowers are seen next to a banner during a vigil at Guildhall for Lyra McKee who had worked as a journalist

Beautiful daffodils were left in bunches near the scene of the shooting along with a framed photo of Lyra (centre)

Flowers at the scene with a touching tribute which read: 'Heartbroken you lost your life here in Derry. So very sorry RIP Lyra not in our name'

A police van stationed in the area where Lyra was shot sits in front of an Irish flag and freshly donned graffiti which reads 'IRA are done'

Police officers wearing protective face masks and rubber gloves seem to be taking notes and bagging up evidence with the forensics team

This evening, residents of the area walked past a wall which was plastered with graffiti which read 'IRA are done, defeated army'.

There still appeared to be a heavy police presence in the area which police trucks being parked along main roads and in residential areas.

Tributes including flowers and heartfelt notes were also left at the scene of the shooting. One single bunch of flowers was left on some steps, which bore a sign above it which read 'injury to all'.

A memorial including flowers candles and trinkets was laid including a plaque which read: 'Rest in peace Lyra MC Kee Not In Our Name - The People Of Derry'

A police officer was pictured paying her respects at the memorial which had been left for Lyra close to the scene

People attending a vigil at the Guildhall today held Unison flags and a banner which read 'An Injury To One is An Injury To All'

Officers continued to inspect the scene while others were also pictured paying their own tributes to the journalist at various shrines and memorials which had been put up in her memory.

Defiant residents of the city later started the hashtag #NotInMyName on social media in an act of opposition to the violence, while hundreds of people attended a vigil in memory of the Belfast-born journalist near where she died.

Moments before her death, Ms McKee had posted an image from the scene of the riots on Twitter that showed smoke rising into the air above police vehicles, along with the caption: 'Derry tonight. Absolute madness.'

In another heartbreaking Tweet, she spoke of 'falling in love with Derry' and 'a woman who hails from it', before tragically adding: 'Here's to good times ahead and saying goodbye to bombs and bullets once and for all.'

Ms Canning, pictured left alongside Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster, right, added Lyra was a 'shining light'

An emotional Ms Canning waved a rainbow flag at the vigil, pictured, as she mourned her partner alongside hundreds of other friends and supporters

Friends of Ms McKee struggled to contain their emotions as they wept at the vigil in her memory in Londonderry today

Moments before her death, Ms McKee had posted an image from the scene of the riots on Twitter showing smoke rising into the air above emergency service vehicles, along with the caption: 'Derry tonight. Absolute madness'

Hardline republican group blames 'Crown Forces' for killing Saoradh, a political party with links to dissident republican militants, said in a statement it understood Ms McKee was killed accidentally by a 'Republican Volunteer'. The statement read: 'The Crown Forces have waged a campaign of oppression in Republican Derry, and the community has endured ongoing State Violence in the area, with deafening silence from the political establishment representatives in the area. Saoradh has not shied away from highlighting this, including attacks on our members.' Saoradh said last night's riot were the consequence of raids against republicans ahead of Easter weekend. 'The inevitable reaction to such an incursion was resistance from the youth of Creggan. The blame for last night lies squarely at the feet of the British Crown Forces, who sought to grab headlines and engineered confrontation with the community. 'During this attack on the community, a Republican Volunteer attempted to defend people from the PSNI/RUC. Tragically a young journalist covering the events, Lyra McKee, was killed accidentally while standing behind armed Crown Force personnel and armoured vehicles. 'This outcome is heartbreaking and we extend our sincerest sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of the deceased.' Advertisement

Tributes left on a fundraising page said Ms McKee 'just wanted to expose the truth' and was an 'incredible investigative journalist and a defender of press freedom'.

Her first book, Angels With Blue Faces, is a non-fiction investigation of the murder of Robert Bradford, a Methodist minister and Ulster Unionist MP for South Belfast who was killed by the IRA in 1981.

One person wrote on the page: 'Lyra was a passionate defender of press freedom and exposing the truth. You don't expect journalists to be killed anywhere.

'For it to happen to a friend, in a (troubled) democracy, is just unbelievable.'

Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said this afternoon that police were hunting multiple suspects following the shooting, but refused to be drawn on suggestions that the gunman who killed Ms McKee was a teenage boy.

Speaking during an emotional press conference at the Guildhall in Londonderry, he said: 'We certainly believe there was more than one person who was involved in this last night.

'Obviously only one person pulled the trigger but there was more than one person. This was not done to further any cause - this will have achieved nothing other than to plunge a family into grief.'

Ms McKee had covered the legacy of the Troubles extensively, and spoke of being segregated from Protestants while growing up on Belfast's 'Murder Mile', a road notorious for the high number of locals killed by Ulster loyalists.

Assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton said more than 50 petrol bombs were thrown at police during the riots as he described the killing as 'not only a murder of a young woman, it is an attack again on the people of this city'.

He then pointed the finger at the New IRA, an amalgamation of dissident republican factions in the city, which was blamed for a car bombing in Bishop Street in January, as he called for calm in the city ahead of Easter.

Speaking about the shock of Ms McKee's death, close friend Matthew Hughes told MailOnline: 'The loss her friends feel is unquantifiable. Unfathomable. She is utterly irreplaceable.'

Paying tribute to his friend, he added: 'It was just after midnight, my wife got a call from Lyra's partner. It was probably the one of the worst phone calls I've ever overheard in my life.

'I heard the word 'shot', and that she was dead. Lyra was one of my best friends, she was a groomswoman at my wedding; she helped me tie my tie before the wedding. We'd traveled abroad together; we were very, very close.'

Mr Hughes said he had known Ms McKee for five years and understood his friend had been killed by a stray bullet, according to Ms McKee's partner, who was at the scene.

He added: 'Lyra was such a brilliant, kind, compassionate person, and so unbelievably good; as a journalist, as a storyteller, as a person.

Ms Canning, pictured centre at the vigil in Londonderry, said the 'senseless murder' left her without the 'love of my life and the woman I was planning to grow old with'

Some of those who attended the vigil in Londonderry were wiping tears from their eyes as they mourned Ms McKee

Ms Canning, pictured, added the LGBTQI community had lost an advocate following her partner's death

Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland Naomi Long (left), Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald (second left) and DUP leader Ms Foster showed a united front at the vigil

Police forensic officers at the scene in Londonderry, Northern Ireland as an investigation begins into the murder of Ms McKee

Who are the New IRA? The New IRA is the biggest of the dissident republican groups operating in Northern Ireland. It has been linked with four murders, including PC Ronan Kerr, who was killed by an under-car bomb in Omagh in 2011. The group is also linked to the deaths of prison officers David Black, who was shot as he drove to work at Maghaberry Prison in 2012, and Adrian Ismay, who died in 2016 after a bomb exploded under his van outside his home in east Belfast. The New IRA is believed to have been formed between 2011 and 2012 following the merger of a number of smaller groups, including the Real IRA - the group behind the 1998 Omagh bomb. It is strongest in Derry, north and west Belfast, Strabane in Co Derry, Lurgan in Co Armagh, and pockets of Tyrone. This year the group was responsible for a car bomb outside the courthouse in Bishop Street, Derry. The explosives-laden car was left on the city centre street on a Saturday night in January, and scores of people, including a group of teenagers, had walked past before it detonated. The New IRA also claimed a number of package bombs posted to targets in London and Glasgow in March. Advertisement

'If she saw a homeless person on the street she would go and buy them a cup of tea and a sandwich. She was the kindest, brightest, most determined person.

'She was a great investigative reporter, and she was at this inflection point in her career - she was going to go to the next level, she was so bright and so accomplished.'

Ms McKee was an editor for California-based news site Mediagazer and had extensively covered the Troubles in Northern Ireland, leading to Forbes naming her as one of its 30 under 30 in the media in 2016.

She first rose to prominence in 2014 after a blog post called 'Letter to my 14-year-old self' in which she spoke about the struggle of growing up gay in Belfast.

Last year, she released her first novella called Angels With Blue Faces, a non-fiction novella about the murder of a reverend during the Northern Irish conflict, with her second book The Lost Boys scheduled for release in 2020.

In a forward to her first book, she said her share of the sale proceeds would 'go to Paper Trail, a charity that helps survivors of the conflict – regardless of religion, political belief, or other affiliations'.

She added: 'It empowers victims by helping them ask questions and obtain answers about what was often the most traumatic experience of their lives.

'Your money will help Paper Trail continue to do this, as Northern Ireland continues to recover from the devastation left by 30 years of war.'

In the foreword, she spoke of her country as 'a beautiful tragedy, strangled by the chains of its past and its present'.

'It's a place full of darkness and mysteries,' she added. 'It's also my home. Sometimes, I love it and hate it in equal measure.'

She had headed to the city's Creggan district after riots erupted following police raids on a number of homes yesterday.

Several vehicles were hijacked and set alight earlier in the incident before the gunshots were heard.

Another reporter, Leona O'Neill, said she was standing next to the woman who was hit. She Tweeted: 'I was standing beside this young woman when she fell beside a police Land Rover tonight in Creggan.

A car was torched by the mob as violence erupted on the streets of Londonderry on Thursday ahead of the Easter Weekend

Police said shots were fired and petrol bombs were thrown as rioters (pictured) clashed with police after homes were raided in the area ahead of Easter weekend

Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said this afternoon that police were hunting multiple suspects following the shooting but refused to be drawn on suggestions that the gunman who killed Ms McKee was a teenage boy

In a heartbreaking Tweet, Ms McKee spoke of 'falling in love with Derry' and 'a woman who hails from it', before tragically adding: 'Here's to good times ahead and saying goodbye to bombs and bullets once and for all'

'I called an ambulance for her but police put her in the back of their vehicle and rushed her to hospital where she died. Just 29 years old. Sick to my stomach tonight.'

And local political candidate Emmet Doyle said: 'A masked figure stopped at the bottom of the road and fired shots up towards the Land Rovers.

'We all turned and ran, I stopped beside the Land Rover nearer the top of the street and a girl beside me dropped to the ground.'

The tragic journalists killed amid unrest in Northern Ireland Martin O'Hagan had been the only journalist killed on Northern Irish soil before the death of Lyra McKee. He was assassinated by the Loyalist Volunteer Force as he walked home from the pub with his wife in 2001. O'Hagan had been an investigative journalist for the Sunday World, and was well-known for his stories exposing the seedy activities of Ulster loyalists. Before his time as a journalist, he was a member of the Official IRA, and was once convicted of possession of firearms with intent, being sentenced to seven years imprisonment. On September 28, 2001, Martin and his wife Marie were walking home from Fa' Joe's pub in his hometown of Lurgan in Northern Ireland when a car pulled up slowly alongside them. As the occupants opened fire from a window, O'Hagan pushed his wife into a bush as he was struck several times by bullets. As he lay wounded on the pavement, he asked his wife to call an ambulance, but by the time she returned from making the call he had died. English journalist Ross McWhirter, co-founder of the Guinness World Book of Records, was murdered by IRA assassins outside his London home in 1975. He came a target of paramilitary republicans after offering a £50,000 reward for information leading to convictions in high-profile bombings carried out by the IRA during the Troubles. He also advocated for restrictions on the freedom of Irish people during the unrest. Harry Duggan and Hugh Doherty shot him in the head and chest outside his home with a Magnum revolver. They were convicted for the crime but then released under the Good Friday Agreement. Advertisement

Prime Minister Theresa May called the death of Ms McKee a 'shocking and truly senseless' loss of life in a statement today.

'My deepest condolences go to her family, friends and colleagues,' she said. 'She was a journalist who died doing her job with great courage.'

Speaking at a press conference at Strand Road PSNI station in Londonderry, Assistant Chief Constable for District Policing Mark Hamilton said journalist Ms McKee was murdered by dissident republicans.

He said police had been carrying out a search operation in the Creggan area of Derry when a situation developed during which more than 50 petrol bombs were thrown at police and two cars hijacked and set on fire.

'Unfortunately, at 11pm last night, a gunman appeared and fired a number of shots towards police and a young woman, Lyra McKee, 29 years old, was wounded,' she said.

'She was taken away in a police landrover to Altnagelvin Hospital but unfortunately she has died there. We have now launched a murder inquiry here in the city.

'Can I say also, I want to pass my deepest sympathies to the family of Ms McKee, this is a horrendous act, it is unnecessary, it is uncalled for, it's totally unjustified.

'But not only is it a murder of a young woman, it is an attack again on the people of this city.

'I stood here in January and we talked about the bomb and the act of violence against this city, and yet again we see another act of violence in this city which has had horrendous consequences and which will affect people for many, many years.

'I would appeal to people, particularly this Easter weekend, to stay calm, I would appeal to people who are intent on violence to draw back, I would appeal to people with influence to use your influence and make sure this is peaceful weekend. Not only this weekend but going forward in this city.

'These acts of violence are bringing nothing to this city, all they are doing is bringing misery to one family, but also particularly to this city and also to our broader province.'

Ann Travers, whose sister Mary was murdered by the IRA in 1984, said Ms McKee was a 'kind, gentle, witty and stubborn soul'.

'I have just heard, that my lovely friend Lyra was murdered tonight in Derry. I just can't believe, that this witty, clever human being has been taken... Feel sick.'

Fellow journalist Peter McGuire said Ms McKee was a 'gifted writer, a kind person and SO generous with her time and knowledge'.

'So young - horrific & heartbreaking news from Derry tonight,' he tweeted.

Seamus Dooley, Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists, wrote: 'Shocked by news that woman shot dead in Derry last night has been named locally as @NUJofficial Lyra McKee.

'We are shocked by killing of a journalist of courage, style and integrity. Sympathy to her partner, family and many friends.'

Lilly Dancyger, a New York-based editor at Narratively, said Ms McKee was 'dedicated to covering the lasting trauma & violence of the Troubles'.

'Devastating to hear she was killed tonight by that same violence,' she tweeted.

Ms Dancyger shared an article written by Ms McKee about the families of Troubles victims.

'I was Lyra's editor on this story, and it was an honour. Sharing her work now is all I can think to do,' she said.

Police officers were pictured at the scene of last night's riot and murder as they launched a murder probe following the death of Ms McKee

Police attend the scene of the shooting this morning, after a journalist was killed on Fanad Drive in Creggan late last night

Ms McKee headed to the city's Creggan district after riots erupted following police raids on a number of homes yesterday. Several vehicles were hijacked and set alight earlier in the incident before the gunshots were heard

Michelle Stanistreet, National Union of Journalists (NUJ) general secretary, said Ms McKee was one of the most promising journalists in Northern Ireland.

She said: 'A young, vibrant life has been destroyed in a senseless act of violence. A bright light has been quenched and that plunges all of us in to darkness.'

Writer Brooke Magnanti, whose blogs were made into TV hit Secret Diary Of A Call Girl, said she was 'stunned' by the news.

She tweeted: 'I only knew her from online and a phone conversations after we were introduced by @GlasgaeLauraLee.

Police revealed this morning that they believe the attack was carried out by 'violent dissident republicans', calling Ms McKee a 'completely innocent bystander'

Armed officers were pictured at the scene, but police claimed that none of its firearms were discharged during the night, despite 'absorbing high levels of violence' from rioters

Mr Hughes said he had known Ms McKee (pictured) for five years and understood his friend had been killed by a stray bullet, according to Ms McKee's partner, who was at the scene

Crowds watch on as a hijacked car explodes after being set on fire in Creggan, Londonderry, late on Thursday, in the rioting before the gunfire

Police 'appealed for calm' in the wake of the violent flare-up on Thursday evening after the female journalist was murdered

How Lyra McKee grew up on Belfast's 'Murder Mile' before launching a career as a journalist Lyra McKee had extensively covered the legacy of the Troubles, and spoke of being segregated from Protestants while growing up on Belfast's 'Murder Mile', a road notorious for the high number of locals killed by Ulster loyalists. Ms McKee was an editor for California-based news site Mediagazer and had extensively covered the Troubles in Northern Ireland, leading to Forbes naming her as one of its 30 under 30 in the media in 2016. She first rose to prominence in 2014 after a blog post called 'Letter to my 14-year-old self' in which she spoke about the struggle of growing up gay in Belfast. Last year, she released her first novella called Angels With Blue Faces, a non-fiction novella about the murder of a reverend during the Northern Irish conflict, with her second book The Lost Boys scheduled for release in 2020. In a forward to her first book, she said her share of the sale proceeds would 'go to Paper Trail, a charity that helps survivors of the conflict – regardless of religion, political belief, or other affiliations'. She added: 'It empowers victims by helping them ask questions and obtain answers about what was often the most traumatic experience of their lives. 'Your money will help Paper Trail continue to do this, as Northern Ireland continues to recover from the devastation left by 30 years of war.' In the foreword, she spoke of her country as 'a beautiful tragedy, strangled by the chains of its past and its present'. 'It's a place full of darkness and mysteries,' she added. 'It's also my home. 'Sometimes, I love it and hate it in equal measure.' Advertisement

'She struck me as a thoughtful journalist unafraid to challenge her own beliefs. Rare and precious. Deepest condolences to family and friends.'

The unrest comes ahead of the Easter weekend where republicans mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising, a time when dissidents are traditionally active.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Vardakar said his government condemned the violence in the 'strongest possible terms'.

He tweeted: 'The Government condemns in the strongest possible terms the fatal shooting of journalist and writer Lyra McKee in Derry.

'We are all full of sadness after last night's events. We cannot allow those who want to propagate violence, fear and hate to drag us back to the past.

'I would like to express my sincere condolences to Lyra's family, her partner Sara and her friends.

'Our solidarity also goes out to the people of Derry and to the entire journalism community.'

United States House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi also paid tribute to journalist Ms McKee during a visit to Stormont.

A minute's silence was observed during an event she attended in the Long Gallery in respect of Ms McKee during a speech by Northern Ireland Assembly speaker Robin Newton.

During her speech, Ms Pelosi said: 'Sadly, Mr Speaker, we join you on the sadness of the tragedy that happened last night, we extend our condolences to the family and your moment of silence at this time, on Good Friday is especially poignant,' she said.

'You not only had a moment of silence, you presented a sense of resolve that justice would be done and the memory of that young woman would be a lesson for all of us.'

Sinn Fein deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said the killing in Derry was a 'senseless loss of life'.

Gunfire erupted during the clashes as police moved in to assist and the female victim was struck by a stray bullet, witness said

'Keep hanging on, kid. It's worth it. I love you': Lyra's poignant letter to her 14-year-old self A poignant letter than Ms McKee wrote to her 14-year-old self has been widely shared on Twitter as people pay tribute to her life and career. In the letter, published by The Muckraker in August 2014, she told of overcoming homophobia to live a happy and fulfilling life. It begins: 'Kid, It's going to be okay. 'I know you're not feeling that way right now. You're sitting in school. The other kids are making fun of you. You told the wrong person you had a crush and soon, they all knew your secret. It's horrible. They make your life hell.' She then described joining a scheme to encourage young people into journalism, before joining a local technical college and then going on to university, which she dropped out of. The letter continues: 'Three months before your 21st birthday, you will tell Mum the secret. You will be sobbing and shaking and she will be frightened because she doesn't know what's wrong. Christmas will be just a couple of weeks away. 'You have to tell her because you've met someone you like and you can't live with the guilt anymore. You can't get the words out so she says it: 'Are you gay?' And you will say, 'Yes Mummy, I'm so sorry.' And instead of getting mad, she will reply 'Thank God you're not pregnant'.' She then described coming out to her friends and siblings, none of whom reacted badly. After several more paragraphs it concludes: 'You will do 'normal' things. You will spend time with your Mum. You will go to work and pay your bills. 'You will go to the cinema with your best friend every week because that's your ritual – dinner then an action movie where things explode. You will fall in love again. You will smile every day, knowing that someone loves you as much as you love them.' Advertisement

What is the timeline of the Northern Ireland troubles and peace process? August 1969: British Government first send troops into Northern Ireland to restore order after three days of rioting in Catholic Londonderry 30 January 1972: On 'Bloody Sunday' 13 civilians are shot dead by the British Army during a civil rights march in Londonderry March 1972 The Stormont Government is dissolved and direct rule imposed by London 1970s: The IRA begin its bloody campaign of bombings and assassinations in Britain April 1981 Bobby Sands, a republicans on hunger strike in the Maze prison, is elected to Parliament. He dies a month later October 1984 An IRA bomb explodes at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, where Margaret Thatcher is staying during the Tory Party conference Early 1990s: Margaret Thatcher and then Sir John Major set up a secret back channel with the IRA to start peace talks. The communications was so secret most ministers did not know about it. April 1998 Tony Blair helps to broker the Good Friday Agreement, which is hailed as the end of the Troubles. It establishes the Northern Ireland Assembly with David Trimble as its first minister. 2000s: With some exceptions the peace process holds and republican and loyalist paramilitaries decommission their weapons May 2011 The Queen and Prince Philip make a state visit to Ireland, the first since the 1911 tour by George V. In a hugely symbolic moment, the Queen is pictured shaking hands with Martin McGuinness - a former IRA leader. Advertisement

She said: 'I am shocked and saddened at the tragic news that a young woman has been shot dead by so-called dissidents in the Creggan estate tonight.

'The murder of this young woman is a human tragedy for her family, but it is also an attack on all the people of this community, an attack on our peace process and an attack on the Good Friday Agreement.

'I unreservedly condemn those responsible for killing this young woman. We will remain resolute in our opposition to the pointless actions of these people who care nothing for the people of Derry.'

DUP leader Arlene Foster said that news of the death was 'heartbreaking' and that it was a 'senseless act'.

'Those who brought guns onto our streets in the 70s, 80 and 90s were wrong. It is equally wrong in 2019. No one wants to go back,' she said.

Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said she was 'deeply shocked and saddened' to hear of the death.

'My thoughts and condolences are with her family at this time. Those responsible for last night's violence have nothing to offer anyone in Northern Ireland.

'Their intolerable actions are rejected by the overwhelming majority of people who want to build a peaceful and more prosperous future for everyone in Northern Ireland.'

Mark H Durkan, SDLP MLA for Foyle, said he was left 'heartbroken and angry' by the killing. 'Just leaving Creggan, heartbroken and angry at the senseless loss of a young life,' he tweeted.

'Violence only creates victims, that's all it ever has done. The thoughts and prayers of our city are with the young woman's family and friends, may she rest in peace.'

Assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, said a murder inquiry had been launched after the death.

He said: 'Sadly I can confirm that following shots being fired tonight in Creggan, a 29-year-old woman has been killed.

'We are treating this as a terrorist incident and we have launched a murder inquiry.'

PSNI officers were searching houses in the Creggan area when the disorder broke out. Bricks, bottles and fireworks were hurled at police officers and a car and a van were seen burned out in the area.

The trouble comes after the announcement on Monday that 'Soldier B' will be prosecuted for the murder of 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty in the Creggan area in July 1972.

He will also be prosecuted on a second charge of wounding with intent.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland wrote on Twitter: 'Police are appealing for calm after a number of shots have been fired and petrol bombs thrown in the Creggan area of Derry.

Gary Middleton, DUP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Foyle, tweeted: 'Disgraceful scenes of violence in the Creggan estate tonight.

'PSNI and members of the public being put in danger by unrepresentative thugs intent on destroying communities.'

A GoFundMe has been set up to cover funeral expenses for the family.