Partner of Killed Journalist Asks Theresa May For Equal Marriage in Northern Ireland
Sara Canning has said she made a personal appeal to Prime Minister Theresa May to back equal marriage in Northern Ireland. Canning’s partner Lyra McKee was killed in Derry on April 18. The pair were planning on becoming engaged this week and had campaigned for the right to marry.
Because Northern Ireland has not been able to form a government since January 2017, progress on equal marriage in the region has stalled.
Canning plans on speaking at a Love Equality march in front of Belfast City Hall this weekend.
“Marriage equality is a cause to which Lyra and I were very committed,” she said ahead of the event.
“Lyra and I were supposed to be on a big trip to New York this week. We were going to get engaged.
“We talked about getting married in Donegal, but really we wanted our love and our marriage to be recognised in Northern Ireland, just the same as the rest of our family members and friends.
“But to date, politicians have stopped that happening here, despite the fact that most people support equal marriage.
“If the politicians won’t legislate for equal marriage at Stormont, then the Prime Minister should do it at Westminster. That’s what I told Theresa May at Lyra’s funeral.
“I wanted her to know that Lyra and I had a right to be treated as equal citizens in our own country. Surely that’s not too much to ask?
“Myself and lots of Lyra’s friends and family are going to be marching for marriage equality. We hope people will come and join us.”
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