Off-duty British soldiers have been banned from all bars in the town where Catholic schoolboy Michael McIlveen was murdered.
British military chiefs imposed a night-time curfew in Ballymena , Co Antrim in a bid to ease sectarian tensions.
"Anyone caught in the pubs after 7pm will have the book thrown at them," one source said. Michael, 15, was beaten to death in a gang assault which has traumatised
Ballymena . Six local teenagers have been charged with the murder. The St Patrick's College pupil was cornered and attacked with baseball bats after being chased through the town early on May 7.
At one stage the pursuit passed St Patrick's Barracks, headquarters of the Royal Irish Regiment. Soldiers living on the camp have always been issued with a list of bars and clubs in Ballymena regarded as off-limits.
Although a Protestant stronghold where the Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley enjoys huge support, some nationalist sections have been no-go areas.
But with extra police patrols on the streets since the killing, restrictions have now been extended throughout the town.
It is understood troops have been told to travel to Belfast, nearly 30 miles away, if they want entertainment. Shopping trips to a branch of Sainsbury's, under a mile from the base, are still allowed.
A British army spokesman would not comment directly on the situation.
But he confirmed: "From time to time the commanding officers of units will restrict areas to soldiers in order to ensure their personal safety."
Declan O'Loan, a nationalist SDLP councillor in Ballymena, backed the precautionary move by military authorities.
He said: "I would have little doubt this is a wise decision. "I don't think there's a generalised state of tension, but there are significant concerns that there could be an incident among certain groups.
"It could be that the presence of soldiers might inflame things or they could just be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
The ban is the latest attempt to halt any further violence in the town. Despite a cross-community show of solidarity at Michael's funeral on Wednesday, when teenagers wearing Glasgow Celtic and Rangers football shirts stood side by side, some privately fear more sectarian attacks.
But a parade tonight by the Ballykeel Loyal Sons of Ulster flute band, which was due to pass near the scene of the fatal attack, has been re-routed.
The decision was taken to ease tensions and as a mark of respect for the McIlveen family.