This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8067198.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Nine held over sectarian murder Widow appeals for no retaliation
(about 2 hours later)
Nine men are being questioned by police about the murder of a 49-year-old father-of-four in Coleraine. The widow of a man beaten to death by a sectarian gang in Coleraine has said her husband would not want retaliation.
Kevin Brendan McDaid was killed yards from his home in the Somerset Drive area after Rangers beat Celtic to the Scottish league title on Sunday. Kevin Brendan McDaid, 49, a Catholic father of four, was attacked and beaten close to his home in the Somerset Drive area on Sunday.
Police said he was "brutally beaten by a sectarian mob". It followed a Rangers versus Celtic match. Nine men are being questioned by police about the murder.
A 46-year-old man who was also assaulted in nearby Pates Lane remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. Damian Fleming, 46, was also assaulted. He is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Police said Mr McDaid was "brutally beaten by a sectarian mob".
Mr McDaid's widow, Evelyn, said her family had been left "devastated" by the murder.
"He was my life, he was a very loving father and a great man," she said.
Mrs McDaid was herself beaten as she tried to protect her husband. She suffered a head injury, two black eyes and was given a brain scan to ensure there were no other injuries.
Describing the moments of the attack, she said: "I ran across to help him. They beat me while they beat him.
"My neighbour had to step in to save me. She was pregnant and they beat her. She shouted 'I'm pregnant,' but they didn't care.
"My sons tried to work on him. The ambulance was phoned. But he was dead, I knew he was dead. It was his colour and he couldn't breathe.
"The people who did this have to be punished. They took my husband's life; they have just destroyed our whole family."
They beat me while they beat him. My neighbour had to step in to save me. She was pregnant and they beat her Evelyn McDaid
Mrs McDaid said those who carried out the attack should be punished. But she said that her husband would not want retaliation.
"They took my husband's life; they have just destroyed our whole family."
Mr Fleming's son, Brendan, said his father was a lovely man.
"He is very critical in hospital. There is a 50/50 chance. You would not recognise him if you saw him with all the marks on his face," he said.
The police increased patrols in the County Londonderry town after further trouble on Monday.The police increased patrols in the County Londonderry town after further trouble on Monday.
Detective Chief Inspector Frankie Taylor said their main line of inquiry was a "sectarian motive".Detective Chief Inspector Frankie Taylor said their main line of inquiry was a "sectarian motive".
Sectarianism has no place in Northern Ireland and those who carried out this vicious murder have no place in society Paul GogginsSecurity minister
He said Mr McDaid was a youth worker who had tried to bring both sides of the community together and was "well-known and well-liked".He said Mr McDaid was a youth worker who had tried to bring both sides of the community together and was "well-known and well-liked".
He said the police had been in the area at the time of the attack and had been aware of disturbances after the football matches.He said the police had been in the area at the time of the attack and had been aware of disturbances after the football matches.
The police are looking at the possibility that tensions had risen in the area after Irish tricolours had been put up on lampposts.The police are looking at the possibility that tensions had risen in the area after Irish tricolours had been put up on lampposts.
Inspector Taylor said the attack on the 46-year-old man, who is critically ill, was being treated as attempted murder. Inspector Taylor said the attack on Mr Fleming was being treated as attempted murder.
"We may very well be looking at a second murder here," he said."We may very well be looking at a second murder here," he said.
Security Minister Paul Goggins appealed to people in the area to help police "in bringing his killers to justice".
"I would appeal to the community for calm - sectarianism has no place in Northern Ireland and those who carried out this vicious murder have no place in society," he said.
'Loyalist group'
The deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness, said a "sizeable group of loyalists" was responsible for the attacks.
"They decided it was a good idea to attack a Catholic area," he said.
"I'm absolutely dismayed at this and I think at this very, very important time, it's important that people in the community identify those responsible and co-operate with the police to bring those murderers to justice."
The East Londonderry DUP MP, Gregory Campbell, also condemned the murder.
"There has to be total condemnation of this killing as we would do for all other killings, no matter when or where they occurred or who the victims were," he said.
Forensic teams have been at the scene
"There ought to be the fullest possible co-operation between everyone in the area and the police in order to bring those responsible to justice."
SDLP assembly member John Dallat said he knew Mr McDaid's family well.
"This man was doing nothing more than going down to check on his sons and lost his life when this lynching mob from a different part of the town came along and rendered their form of justice.
"It's certainly lawlessness and it needs to addressed.
"The immediate emphasis should be on an inquiry.
"It must be thorough, it must be detailed, and we mustn't be discussing it years into the future," said Mr Dallat.
Ulster Unionist assembly member David McClarty said it was too early to say who was involved.
"We are in a situation here where we have to moderate our language and not go throwing blame where no proof has been given as to who was responsible for this incident.
"There is an element of sectarianism in the area but the vast majority of people in the Killowen/Heights area of Coleraine want to live in peace and harmony with their next door neighbours," he said.