Graffiti threatening to “execute” people helping the police investigation into Lyra McKee’s murder has appeared in Derry, a court heard.

“Informers will be executed,” read one message sprayed metres away from where the 29-year-old journalist was shot dead during riots last month.

A judge cited the threats while refusing two men accused of involvement in the violence bail on Saturday.

Paul McIntyre, 51, of Ballymagowan Park in Creggan, is charged with riot, petrol bomb offences and arson of a hijacked vehicle.

Christopher Gillen, 38, of Balbane Pass, is charged with riot, petrol bomb offences and the arson and the hijacking of a tipper truck.

Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Show all 21 1 /21 Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots A burning car in Creggan, Derry after petrol bombs were thrown at police during riots in Northern Ireland PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Armed police at the scene of unrest PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Petrol bombs being thrown at police PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Belfast Journalist Lyra McKee was killed during the riots. Police Service of Northern Ireland said that McKee was allegedly shot while reporting on clashes with dissident republican rioters EPA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots A burning car in Creggan, Londonderry after petrol bombs were thrown at police. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Armed police in Creggan, Londonderry after shots were fired and petrol bombs were thrown at police. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Armed police in Creggan, Londonderry after shots were fired and petrol bombs were thrown at police. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Petrol bombs are thrown at police in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Armed police in Creggan, Londonderry after shots were fired and petrol bombs were thrown at police. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Heavilly armed police guard a crime scene during unrest in the Creggan area of Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. See PA story . Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Hijacked vehicles on fire in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Armed police in Creggan, Londonderry after shots were fired and petrol bombs were thrown at police. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots hijacked vehicles one fire in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Petrol bombs are thrown at police in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Petrol bombs are thrown at police in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots A hijacked car explodes after being set on fire in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots A PSNI officer conducts a search after shots where reportedly fired in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots The scene of unrest in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots Police conduct a crime scene search after shots where fired in Creggan, Londonderry. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2019. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Niall Carson PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots The scene on Fanad Drive the following day PA Violence erupts in Northern Ireland as journalist killed during riots The scene on Fanad Drive in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, following the death of 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee who was shot and killed when guns were fired and petrol bombs were thrown in what police are treating as a "terrorist incident". PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 19, 2019. See PA story ULSTER Unrest. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Brian Lawless PA

Both men, who were arrested on Thursday, refused to stand in Derry magistrates’ court and recognise its authority.

District judge Barney McElholm said he had concerns about witnesses being prevented from coming forward.

“We’re all aware of the disgraceful graffiti in Creggan that warned off anyone talking to police, whoever did that, did these two men a great disservice,” he said.

“There is no address anywhere in this city which would be suitable in this case, at any stage. I will refuse bail.”

A police officer had told the court of concerns that both men may attempt to intimidate witnesses, or attempt to leave the country if they received bail.

Street signs were painted with a picture of a rat and the message: “Informers will be shot. IRA,” while others said: “RUC informers: They will forget about you, we won’t. IRA.”

Another slogan claimed the IRA was “here to stay” following changes to pro-IRA murals during a wave of condemnation following Ms McKee’s death.

New pro-IRA grafitti appeared near where journalist Lyra McKee was killed in Creggan, Derry (Aoife Moore/PA ) (Aoife Moore/PA Wire)

One wall that was changed to call the republican terrorist group “done” in the aftermath of the shooting was altered to read: “New IRA aren’t done. Undefeated army 2019. Unfinished revolution.”

The New IRA claimed responsibility for attacks on police in Derry’s Creggan district on 18 April, but said the shooting of Ms McKee – who was standing next to a police vehicle – was an accident.

The terrorist group claimed it was responding to an “incursion” by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which said it was conducting searches to prevent violence during commemorations for the Easter Rising.

Prosecutors allege that Mr MyIntyre and Mr Gillen are connected to the New IRA, and that it orchestrated rioting that led up to Ms McKee’s death on 18 April.

“All nationalism corrupts into fascism eventually whether it’s Irish nationalism or British or Polish nationalism – we’ve all seen where it ends up,” Judge McElholm told the court.

“I have to bear in mind these gentlemen, there’s no evidence either of them belonging to any paramilitary organisation but they are a part of an organisation with a defined ideology.

New pro-IRA grafitti appeared near where journalist Lyra McKee was killed in Creggan, Derry (Aoife Moore/PA)

A PSNI detective told the court that an MTV documentary crew, who were filming in Derry with presenter Reggie Yates, caught the two defendants on camera on the day Ms McKee was killed.

They were allegedly seen in the offices of republican group Saoradh that afternoon, speaking in the company of members.

Police claim footage taken from CCTV and mobile phones later showed two masked men, in identical clothing and footwear to the defendants, exiting a hijacked tipper truck, carrying a crate of petrol bombs and throwing them at police.

“Police believe these were the ringleaders, that’s obvious from footage,” the detective told the court.

Amid the unrest, a masked gunman fired shots in the direction of police and struck Ms McKee, who died of her injuries in hospital.

Police say more than 140 people have come forward with mobile phone or social media footage and a £10,000 reward has been offered by charity Crimestoppers for anyone with information that leads to an arrest over the death of Ms McKee.

An 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy, who were arrested on the same day as the defendants, have been released without charge.