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My father never did anyone any harm, says son of murdered Catholic
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
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Murder victim Kevin McDaid has been described as a gentleman who would have done anything for anybody.
The 49-year-old Catholic father-of-four from Coleraine was battered to death by a gang of loyalists close to his home on Sunday night. He died trying to save another man during sectarian clashes in the Heights area after Sunday’s Rangers and Celtic football matches. It is understood a gang of more than 40 loyalists descended on the mixed estate and launched the savage attack.
A 46-year-old man, Damien Fleming, who was set upon in the Pate’s Lane area, was last night fighting for his life in hospital.
Mr McDaid’s Protestant wife Evelyn was also assaulted and suffered cuts and bruising. Last night friends said she was inconsolable and unable to speak of her devastation.
However the couple’s eldest son Ryan (22) who witnessed the fatal attack on his father described the perpetrators as “thugs” and “animals”.
Ryan, who had the harrowing task of identifying his father’s body yesterday, added: “They are not fit to walk on this earth. I hope they are brought to justice, something needs to be done.
“My father was a well-known man, he never did anybody any harm. He was well-loved. He was a 100% father. My mum is not doing too well, but I need to stay strong and get everything organised.
“Mum was attacked too. She is badly bruised and has cuts on her head. These people that did this are just thugs and animals, I hope they are caught.”
Meanwhile, speaking from the scene at Somerset Drive yesterday, senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Frankie Taylor said patrols had been stepped up in the area and that CCTV footage from across Coleraine would be examined.
He appealed for calm after pockets of violence flared in other parts of the town.
Mr McDaid was a well-known and well liked man. He was a qualified plasterer but had carried out cross-community work with young people from the estate. Indeed, he had only recently returned from a fishing trip where he had taken children from both sides of the community.
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