Much to ponder in priest's words

By Mark Simpson
BBC Ireland correspondent

Of all the words uttered in the wake of the killing of Catholic father-of-four Kevin McDaid, it is the remarks made by his parish priest which are, arguably, the most disturbing.

A priest told mourners the murder was an act of primitive evil.

Rather than diplomatically ignore the circumstances which surrounded the death of the 49-year-old Coleraine community worker, Fr Charles Keaney tackled them head-on at the funeral Mass.

Listening were republican and nationalist politicians, including Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

There was no sign of any prominent unionist politicians at the funeral.

Whatever the reasons for them not being there, they will have since heard the outspoken words used in the funeral address on local radio and TV news bulletins.

The remarks gave politicians - on all sides - much to ponder.

Police described the killing as sectarian. In the sacred surroundings of St John's Catholic Church in Coleraine, Fr Keaney delivered his own verdict.

"It was primitive evil," he said.

What he went on to say about community relations in parts of Coleraine was blunt and stark.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was among the mourners

He said: "Scratch beneath the veneer of normality and you will find a people with tired hopes, dull love and broken trust.

"A place where bitter mindless acts of violence and murder can be tolerated or excused even by a minority."

He added: "Unless we put the prejudices of the past behind us and increase our efforts to work together, then this could happen again."

Those are chilling words, coming as they do after almost 20 years of a peace process in Northern Ireland.

There is clearly much more work to be done, on both sides of the divide.

The family of Mr McDaid was visited last week by Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson, the leader of the largest unionist party, the DUP.

The fact that hardline unionists are sharing power with republicans from Sinn Fein at Stormont sends out a message to communities that working together is the way forward.

However, it seems that in some areas, people are not listening.

In Northern Ireland, sectarianism is a wound which is very slow to heal.