Funeral For Slain Coleraine Man

The funeral of a father-of-four viciously beaten to death by a loyalist gang has taken place in Coleraine.

Community worker Kevin McDaid was killed close to his Somerset Drive home last weekend, when trouble flared following a contentious football match between Celtic and Rangers.

Police have suggested last Sunday's violence had a sectarian motive.

So far nine men have been charged in connection with the murder, and the attempted murder of Damien Fleming, who was also set upon.

Mr Fleming remains critically ill in hospital.

A funeral mass for Mr McDaid took place at St John's Church this morning, with deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness among the mourners.

During the service Parish Priest Charles Keaney described the murder as a "primitive and premeditated evil".

"It was like something from the Dark Ages," said Father Keaney.

Suggesting the killing had "nothing to with religion or even football", the priest said: "Retaliation of any kind would dishonour the memory of Kevin McDaid."

His grieving family has contacted the Police Ombudsman to raise concerns over the PSNI's response to the incident.

They have claimed officers "negotiated" with loyalist prior to trouble erupting, in an attempt to control the situation.

According to today's Guardian newspaper, it has been claimed a police officer had sent a text message to loyalists stating that tricolours had been erected in the estate.

Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde insisted his officers do not take orders from members of the public, with a senior officer, Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie suggested officers worked to ease tensions, and came quickly to Mr McDaid's aid.

A loyalist band parade in the area on Friday night passed off without incident, after organisers scaled back the demonstration.

However, there has been a number calls for a Bebo page connected with the band to be removed from the social networking site, after offensive and sectarian postings directed at the McDaid family appeared online.

See: Orde Defends Police Officers Holding Talks With Loyalists On Day Of Coleraine Murder

(PR/BMcC)