The mother of murdered journalist Lyra McKee has died.

Acting Tánaiste Simon Coveney has expressed "deepest sympathy of the entire Fine Gael organisation" at the passing of Joan Lawrie.

She died in hospital in Belfast on Tuesday night.

It is understood her health deteriorated after Lyra's death.

The 29-year-old was shot dead in Co Derry while covering rioting in April last year.

The New IRA had said it was responsible for the gunshot which killed Ms McKee during riots in Creggan.

Joan Lawrie, the mother of murdered journalist Lyra McKee, at the launch of her daughter's first book titled 'Angels with Blue Faces' at the Linenhall Library in Belfast in August 2019 | Image: Liam McBurney/PA Archive/PA Images

On Wednesday, Mr Coveney said: "Joan Lawrie was a mother who raised a beautiful family.

"They were her world and last April that world was turned upside down with the brutal murder of Joan's daughter, Lyra McKee.

"I met Joan alongside President Higgins, the Taoiseach and the British prime minister in the side chapel of St Anne's Cathedral and she told us all she had 'lost her baby'.

"It is a moment I will never forget. All of our hearts broke for an innocent young woman and her innocent mother and family."

"I have gotten to know Joan's daughter Nicola in the last year and I would like to send my condolences to her and the entire family at the passing of Joan."

Mr Coveney is once again calling on anyone with information on the murder of Ms McKee to cooperate with the PSNI.