The priest at murdered journalist Lyra McKee’s funeral received a standing ovation after directly challenging Northern Ireland’s politicians - asking them why it took the death of a 29-year-old woman to unite their parties.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May stood alongside her Irish counterpart, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, behind Lyra’s coffin after she was shot dead by dissident republicans while observing rioting in Londonderry.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was seated close to DUP chief Arlene Foster inside St Anne’s Cathedral during Lyra’s funeral in Belfast.
Powersharing in the region has been suspended for more than two years in a row over identity issues.
Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley has said she intends to hold discussions with Northern Ireland’s party leaders this week in an effort to restore the arrangement.
At the service, Fr Martin Magill told mourners that today should mark a new beginning for Northern Ireland as he urged dissident republican gunmen who killed the journalist to lay down their arms.
He said: “Why does it take the death of a 29-year-old woman with her whole life in front of her to get to this point?”
He said: “I dare to hope that Lyra’s murder on Holy Thursday night can be the doorway to a new beginning. I detect a deep desire for this.
Fr Magill continued: “To those who had any part in her murder, I encourage you to reflect on Lyra McKee, journalist and writer, as a powerful example of ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’.
“I plead with you to take the road of non-violence to achieve your political ends.”
Since the killing many have condemned the culture of violence and coercive control practised by dissidents, the clergyman added.
“We need to send a very different message and so I appeal to those who have information about Lyra’s murder but who haven’t yet come forward to do so now.
“If you want to see an end to these brutal rules, and see a new society built on justice and fairness, on hope and not fear, then you can help build that society by letting the police know what you know.”
He called on political leaders to break the Stormont negotiations impasse.
“I pray that Lyra’s murder may be the catalyst needed for parties to start talking, to reform that which was corrosive in previous assemblies and to begin anew.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, president of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney were among those who attended.
Lyra was killed by indiscriminate fire as she observed clashes between police and New IRA dissidents on the Creggan estate in Londonderry on April 18.
Lyra was gay and non-sectarian. She revealed to a close friend plans to propose to her partner Sara Canning and get married in Donegal in 2022 just hours before she was murdered. Same-sex marriage is outlawed in Northern Ireland.
The service of thanksgiving was held in the Church of Ireland cathedral, a short distance from her north Belfast home and close to a popular gay nightspot.
The journalist’s sister also urged politicians to get back to work and create a society where labels become meaningless.
Lyra broke down barriers in a divided community in Northern Ireland, mourners were told.
She relished difference and embodied an alternative vision of a Northern Ireland at peace, a friend told the thanksgiving service in Belfast.
In introductory comments, Dean Stephen Forde said: “Lyra was a person who broke down barriers and reached across boundaries.
“This was her hallmark in life, this is her legacy in death.”
Those attending the funeral were asked to wear Harry Potter and Marvel Comics merchandise in tribute to the journalist’s passion for both.