Widow in appeal for march peace

Kevin McDaid was murdered in Coleraine in May

The widow of Kevin McDaid has appealed for an Orange parade near where he was killed not to be used as an excuse for "further sectarianism or division".

The Somme remembrance parade takes place in Coleraine, County Londonderry, on Wednesday.

Mr McDaid, a Catholic, was murdered and his friend, Damian Fleming, critically injured in an attack by a loyalist mob.

In a statement Evelyn McDaid said they did not want any "protest in our family's name".

Killowen Orange Lodge has voluntarily moved the parade away from the spot where Mr McDaid was murdered.

Music will be restricted voluntarily and supporters will not be allowed into the contentious area. No alcohol will be allowed.

Union flags erected close to the murder spot have also been removed.

Tensions

Mr McDaid was killed by a loyalist mob which invaded the largely Catholic area just after Rangers beat Celtic to the Scottish Premiership title.

Ten people have so far been charged in connection with the death, six with murder.

In a statement issued through her solicitors, Mrs McDaid asked that the site where her husband died should not be disrespected or desecrated by anyone, nor used as a monument to, or flashpoint for, sectarianism.

The mother of four said: "We express the sincerely-held hope that this forthcoming parade passes off peacefully and without incident.

"We are a family drawn from the Protestant and Catholic communities. We have been raised to respect all traditions within our community and would appeal for dignity and calm at this difficult time."

The family requested to be allowed to grieve in peace, she said.

"We do not desire that any protest should be carried out in our family's name. We made this statement in order to appeal for calm given recent tensions in the area," she added.

"Kevin's murder should not be allowed, or be used as an excuse, to breed further sectarianism or division within our community."