Parade will not pass murder area

Tributes have been left at the murder scene

A loyalist parade due to take place in Coleraine on Friday evening has been shortened by the organisers.

The original route would have passed close to where 49-year-old Kevin McDaid was murdered at the weekend.

However, the Pride of the Bann flute band has voluntarily shortened their planned route so it does not cross the Bann Bridge.

Parish priest Father Charles Keeney said the band had made the right decision.

"I'm delighted that they've taken that decision - we all have to be sensitive to the feelings of people that have been bereaved and who are saddened in such a way," he said.

Meanwhile, a man critically injured near where Mr McDaid was killed on Sunday remains on a life-support machine.

Damien Fleming's brother, Bobby, said his condition had not changed.

Mr McDaid died after being beaten by a loyalist mob close to his home in the Somerset Drive area of Coleraine after Rangers won the Scottish league title.

The police have also confirmed they are investigating a threat against one of Mr McDaid's sons.

Ryan McDaid said his life was under threat

Ryan McDaid said he had been told his life was under threat. Another son, Lee, said his father had been a "gentle giant".

Damian Fleming, 46, was assaulted in nearby Pates Lane and is in a critical condition in hospital.

His brother, Bobby, said: "It's breaking all our hearts. I don't know if my brother is going to live or die".

The Parades Commission has said it is satisfied with the band's decision to shorten its march.

"I think it was probably inevitable something had to be done about the parade, because there was no question I think of the parade going the way in which it had originally been filed for," the commission's Roger Poole said.

"So I'm very pleased that the parade organiser has seen that and has now withdrawn that part of the parade that would have brought the parade across the bridge very near to where these assaults took place."

In a statement, the band said it did not think the parade "can rationally be said to have any connection or bearing on recent events".

However, it said the decision to change the route was "an appropriate gesture and one which we hope will be taken as a sincere attempt to ease any community tensions".

Bobby Fleming said he did not know if his brother would live

Earlier, Security Minister Paul Goggins appealed for calm.

He said it was an "evil and barbaric murder".

Detectives have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries in the area.

The chief constable has asked the Police Ombudsman to investigate claims that his officers did not do enough to prevent the fatal attack.

Meanwhile, a 33-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the murder. It means 10 people, including a 15-year-old youth, are now being held by police.

Three other men have been released without charge.

Police said there was no evidence that loyalists paramilitaries were involved.