As the family of murdered Catholic Kevin McDaid prepare for his funeral today, the Presbyterian Moderator Dr Donald Patton has said he is “disgusted” and “shamed” by the loyalists who viciously attacked him.

Hundreds of mourners are |expected to attend Mr McDaid’s funeral, which will take place at 10am this morning after Requiem Mass at St John’s Church, just minutes from the spot where he was murdered last Sunday.

A cross-community vigil that had been due to take place at the scene of the murder in Coleraine was cancelled yesterday. It is |understood the family had been concerned the vigil may have reignited tensions in the area.

Mr McDaid was murdered by a loyalist mob who also beat his wife Evelyn, a Protestant, and left his friend and neighbour Damien Fleming fighting for his life in hospital.

Just days after Mr McDaid’s murder, his son Ryan was told by police that his life was also under threat from a loyalist group.

Expressing his sympathy to the McDaid family, Presbyterian Moderator Dr Donald Patton said: “In stating unreserved condemnation of Kevin’s murder and disgust and shame that those who carried it out claim to be Protestants, there is no place for such acts in our society today, and no place for sectarian bigotry that sets people against one another because of different religious backgrounds or political outlooks.

“Along with Rev David Allen, Moderator of the Presbytery of Coleraine and Limavady, we commend Mrs McDaid for her call for no retaliation over her husband’s death, and would again call for calm from all sides of the community at this sad and shocking time.

“We would also urge anyone who has information that might help Kevin’s killers be brought to justice to give this to the PSNI immediately.”

The Police Ombudsman has been called in to investigate the police response to the sectarian |violence that resulted in Mr |McDaid’s murder and the attempted murder of Mr Fleming. The Ombudsman is also investigating claims from Mr McDaid’s family that loyalists had pre-warned police that they were intending to go into the area.

However, Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said officers worked to ease tensions and came quickly to Mr McDaid’s aid.

She said: “It is vital that everyone continues to work to ensure such brutal sectarian attacks are confined to the past. We owe it to Kevin's memory to ensure this happens.”

Nine men have been charged in connection with the murder of Mr McDaid (49), and the attempted murder of Mr Fleming (46).

Mr McDaid died from a heart attack after being kicked and beaten by the mob as he tried to save Mr Fleming, who remains in a critical condition in hospital.