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I’m trying to grieve while facing a loyalist death threat
Thursday, 28 May 2009
The son of murdered Catholic Kevin McDaid has said he will not be intimidated by loyalist thugs who have now issued a death threat against him.
Heartbroken Ryan McDaid (22), whose father died in his arms after being beaten to death in a vicious sectarian attack, said police told him on Tuesday night that a group of loyalists were planning to “take action” against him.
“I’m trying to grieve for my father and now we have this to deal with,” Ryan told the Belfast Telegraph.
He added: “They can’t do any more to me after taking my dad away. I am not going to be intimidated by them.
“We just want to move on, we do not want any more killings.
“My mum is absolutely devastated — first my dad being killed and now this threat against me.”
Ryan’s mother Evelyn was also injured by the same loyalist mob that killed her husband during serious disturbances in Coleraine on Sunday after Rangers won the Scottish league title.
It has been claimed that members of the UDA were responsible.
Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has called in the Police Ombudsman to investigate the police response to the murder following allegations that officers stood around while Mr McDaid was beaten to death.
Sinn Fein councillor Billy Leonard challenged the loyalists
behind the death threat against Mr McDaid’s son to publicly withdraw it.
“This family have suffered enough, they must be able to grieve without further pressure,” he said.
SDLP MLA John Dallat said it is time the Northern Ireland Office stopped adopting a “softly softly” approach against “the loyalist murder gangs that still hold on to their arsenals”.
He added: “The people who battered Kevin McDaid to death told him they were from the UDA and there is no reason to disbelieve them.
“The threat may be a bit disorganised, it may not have had clearance from the relevant brigadier, but it is no less murderous for that. There should be no more easy ride for these murder gangs.”
Another man was arrested yesterday for questioning about Mr McDaid’s murder.
The 33-year-old was detained in Coleraine and taken to Antrim PSNI Station.
His detention brings to 10 the number of people currently in custody.
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