Police protection row over sectarian murder

Violence had earlier erupted after Rangers beat Celtic to the Scottish Premier League title.

Mr McDaid’s family today lodged a complaint with the independent Police Ombudsman claiming Police Service of Northern Ireland officers did not do enough to prevent attacks on the Catholic community in the town.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Judith Gillespie insisted police had worked hard to ease tensions on the day of the murder and had been quickly on the scene following the attack on Mr McDaid.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who is seeking a meeting with the Irish Government to discuss the incident, accused UDA paramilitaries of intimidating witnesses to the murder.

That follows a death threat from loyalists to one of the dead man’s sons just 48 hours after the killing.

Six men have been charged with the murder during a series of court appearances at Ballymena. The suspects who are in custody denied all the accusations.

They, and another two men, also denied the attempted murder of Damien Fleming, 46, who was injured in the attack.

Mr McDaid’s family claim PSNI officers in negotiations with loyalists before to the attack were warned there would be violence if demands – thought to relate to the removal of Irish Tricolour flags – on the day were not met.

But despite that, the family said police failed properly to protect the people who were later targeted.

While the police defended their handling of events, Chief Constable Hugh Orde has already referred it to the Police Ombudsman for an independent investigation.

Today the McDaid family issued a statement which said: “The family do seek to make a formal complaint to the Police Ombudsman.

“We are appreciative that of his own volition the Chief Constable has already referred this matter to the Police Ombudsman for investigation.

“Kevin’s murder should not have occurred and these tragic circumstances surrounding his murder and the attack on Damien Fleming need not have occurred.”

The family alleged that loyalists had made police aware there was a risk of violence unless they met some of their demands.

“We are further concerned that given the knowledge of the threat, we and our neighbours were not properly protected,” they said. “We want the community to support the police, but police must also support the community.”

The family thanked the officers who came to Mr McDaid’s aid and praised the efforts of hospital staff to help the injured.

While declining to comment on the specific circumstances leading up the incident, ACC Gillespie defended her officers’ conduct on the day.

“Let me reassure you that we are doing everything to investigate the timeline of events that led to Kevin’s death,” she said.

“We are fully aware of the concerns expressed by the family and a number of other people in the community and have asked the Police Ombudsman to carry out a full and independent inquiry.

“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on the specific details of the circumstances leading to the murder, as people have been charged and PSNI are carrying out an investigation.

“However, I can reassure you that on Sunday May 24 my neighbourhood officers worked tirelessly to ease tensions in Coleraine ahead of a Scottish Premier League football match.

“Following the attack, officers were quickly on the scene and attempted to save Mr McDaid’s life by rendering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR and also acted swiftly and courageously in coming to the aid of Mr Fleming.

“These officers are also devastated by the death of Kevin – a man they knew well through his positive work in the community and by the serious attack on Damien.”

In regard to claims of ongoing UDA intimidation of witnesses, Mr McGuinness raised his concerns after a visit to the area with Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson.

“During my visit to the McDaid and Fleming families in Coleraine this morning along with my colleague, Peter Robinson, I was made aware of threats being made to people who supplied witness statements to the police,” he said.

“One male witness in particular was visited by the PSNI yesterday and informed that his life was under threat from loyalist paramilitaries.

“From my discussions in Coleraine, I am in no doubt that these threats emanate from the UDA.”

The UDA’s political wing – the Ulster Political Research Group – issued a statement condemning the murder.

Mr McGuinness has asked for an urgent meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin to discuss the murder.

Meanwhile police are questioning another man today about Mr McDaid’s death.

The 33-year-old is one of two men arrested yesterday in connection with the killing.

A 53-year-old man was released on bail last night pending further inquiries.

Mr McDaid’s widow was also attacked on Sunday, as was a pregnant neighbour.

The men who were charged yesterday were aged between 18 and 50.

They appeared one after the other handcuffed to guards at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court, where district judge Philip Mateer was told all denied the charges.

They were remanded in custody to reappear at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court by video link on June 8.

In their statement the McDaid family again appealed for no further violence in the area.

“In the aftermath of this heinous murder and given the fragility of Mr Fleming’s condition, tensions are extremely high.

“A further death threat has also been served on our family.

“This should not be the legacy of Kevin’s death and it is not what he would have wanted.

“Kevin lived helping others, trying to bridge the divide that exists in our community and trying to join it together, in death it should not be pushed further apart.”

Trade unionists today held an anti-sectarianism rally in Derry in direct response to the killing.