Mother's grief 'raw' one year on

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6633845.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The mother of a County Antrim teenager who died after being attacked by a gang has spoken of her continuing grief on the first anniversary of his death.

Michael McIlveen, 15, died a day after the assault in Ballymena.

Five teenagers, including a 15-year-old, have been remanded in custody charged with his murder.

A local priest said it was poignant his anniversary occurs the day devolution is to return. His mother, Gina, said she still felt her son's presence.

On Sunday evening she retraced her son's final steps.

"I was standing there saying prayers and talking into myself," she said.

"I was getting the odd wee breeze, but then I felt the coldness in my legs and I knew Michael was with me."

On Tuesday evening his family will release hundreds of white balloons in his memory.

'Greatest step'

Local priest Father Paul Simon said: "I think it is a very positive coincidence.

"It obviously wasn't planned that way and yet it seems striking that from a tragedy after which a lot has been done to help bring the communities together.. the greatest step of all the opening of the assembly.

"Michael's mother is very struck by that as well."