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Widow appeals for no retaliation Widow appeals for no retaliation
(about 2 hours later)
The widow of a man beaten to death by a sectarian gang in Coleraine has said her husband would not want retaliation.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, 49, a Catholic father of four, was attacked and beaten by a loyalist mob close to his home in the Somerset Drive area on Sunday. Kevin Brendan McDaid, 49, a Catholic father-of-four, was attacked and beaten by a loyalist mob close to his home in the Somerset Drive area on Sunday.
Nine men are being questioned by police about the murder. Mr McDaid's widow, Evelyn, said the gang who attacked her husband claimed to be members of the UDA. Nine men have been arrested over the killing.
Damian Fleming, 46, was also assaulted. He is in a critical but stable condition in hospital. "I went across to help him and they beat me while they beat him," she said.
Police said Mr McDaid was "brutally beaten by a sectarian mob". "Then my neighbour had to step in to save me and she was pregnant and they beat her too and she shouted 'I'm pregnant' and they didn't care."
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."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.""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 "It was all to do with religion, and I'm not even a Catholic. I am a Protestant, it's a mixed marriage, but they just seem to hate us so much.
Mrs McDaid said those who carried out the attack should be punished. But she said that her husband would not want retaliation. "He was my life, he was a very loving father and a great man.
Mrs McDaid suffered a head injury, two black eyes and was given a brain scan to ensure there were no other injuries.
"They took my husband's life; they have just destroyed our whole family.""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. They took my husband's life; they have just destroyed our whole family Evelyn McDaid
"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. Another man who was assaulted in nearby Pates Lane is in a critical condition in hospital.
Police said Damian Fleming, 46, had been "brutally beaten by a sectarian mob".
Mr Fleming's son, Brendan, said: 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 into Mr McDaid's murder was a "sectarian motive".
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 Mr Fleming 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.