Sectarian mob attack: Nine quizzed

12 April 2012

Nine men are being quizzed by police after a Catholic man was beaten to death by a sectarian mob in Northern Ireland.

The suspects were detained in Coleraine, Co Londonderry, after the murder of Kevin McDaid, 49, on Sunday evening.

The father of four was targeted by a gang of up to 40 as he went to look for his children, following matches between Glasgow Rangers and Celtic.

His wife Evelyn and another man were also injured.

Celtic scarves were tied on railings and flowers left close to the scene of the savage attack.

Mrs McDaid sustained bruising and cuts to the head, while another man is battling for life in hospital.

Former plasterer and youth worker Mr McDaid worked closely with the police. Flags had been recently removed from the area, Somerset Drive, a mainly Catholic estate, police said.

Some residents claimed he was trying to intervene to prevent another assault, others said he was out looking for his children, Ryan, Mark and Lee.

Damien Fleming, 46, was also taken to hospital with serious injuries after being assaulted in nearby Pates Lane during the disturbances. He is understood to have been targeted by a gang which arrived in cars from outside the area.

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