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Widow appeals for no retaliation | Widow appeals for no retaliation |
(40 minutes 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. |
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. | 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. |
"I went across to help him and they beat me while they beat him," she said. | "I went across to help him and they beat me while they beat him," she said. |
"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." | "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." |
"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." |
"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. | "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. |
"He was my life, he was a very loving father and a great man. | "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. | 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." |
They took my husband's life; they have just destroyed our whole family Evelyn McDaid | They took my husband's life; they have just destroyed our whole family Evelyn McDaid |
Another man who was assaulted in nearby Pates Lane is in a critical condition in hospital. | 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". | 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 into Mr McDaid's murder 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 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. |