A hardline militant republican group linked to the New IRA, who were responsible for the murder of journalist Lyra McKee, are coming to Scotland.

Saoradh – Irish for “liberation” – will come to Glasgow this weekend for an event to commemorate the Easter Rising.

Miss McKee, 29, died as a result of injuries sustained when she was shot on Londonderry's Creggan estate during a riot on Thursday, April 18.

The dissident republican New IRA has now accepted it was to blame for the shooting of Miss McKee and has apologised to her friends and family.

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

Police in Northern Ireland have now revealed how outraged locals in the Republican stronghold of Creggan have sent them mobile phone footage in a bid to track down the killer.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

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.”

But Republican activists within Saoradh caused further outrage after issuing a statement which blamed Lyra’s death in Derry on “Crown forces”.

And Saoradh will now join an event at Glasgow’s Lambhill cemetery this Sunday to mark the anniversary of the 1916 rebellion to overthrow British rule in Ireland and set up an Irish republic.

(Image: Photopress Belfast)

In 2017, senior figures of Saoradh – who have the support of ex-IRA prisoners – organised a seminar at a Glasgow hotel. Their aim is to unite Northern Ireland with the south to create a 32-county socialist republic.

The party’s chairman David Jordan was accused of attempting to murder a police officer in a bomb attack in 2008. However, charges against him were dropped.

(Image: PA)

Other key members include Mandy Duffy. Her brother-in-law Colin Duffy – allegedly a senior member of the New IRA – was cleared of shooting two soldiers as they left their barracks to get a pizza in Northern Ireland in 2011.

Previously, Saoradh said: “Scotland has been a traditional area of solidarity in the struggle for Irish freedom.”

Scots band the Craigneuk Wolfe Tone Republican Flute Band yesterday took part in the Saoradh Easter Rising Commemoration in Milltown Cemetery, west Belfast.

Meanwhile, friends of murdered journalist Lyra yesterday defaced an office belonging to a dissident republican group by putting red handprints on the walls of its headquarters in Londonderry.

(Image: Getty Images)

A number of Miss McKee's friends walked to Junior McDaid House in Derry – which is used by members of Saoradh, IRPWA and Eístigí – where they used a pot of red paint to place handprints on the side of the office walls to make it clear they believed they had blood on their hands.

A group of some six men, understood to be members of Saoradh, stood outside the building during the tense protest.

Lyra's friend Sinead Quinn, who took part on Monday's protest, said: "We have used red paint because they have blood on their hands for what has happened.

"They have encouraged it, they have moulded these young people into what they are and they are standing behind them handing them guns.

"They need to take responsibility today for what has happened.

"They have shirked it so far by saying it was an accidental shooting. You don't shoot accidentally."

(Image: Cate McCurry/PA Wire)

She added: "When you put a gun into someone's hand and they shoot it, that's murder.

"Lyra deserves more and I am so glad there are so many people here today to see and watch these men looking at us.

"They are not a representation of republican people in this town.

"Those people don't represent (republicanism). Nobody can advocate shooting into a crowd of people and shooting a 29-year-old woman dead.

"People have been afraid to stand up to people like this, we are not afraid."

Another friend said: "We have had enough. There is a younger generation coming up in the town and they don't need guns put in their hands.

Show more

"They need jobs, they need a better health service and education.

"They need a life, not a gun put in their hands."