FIVE WITNESSES are under threat following the murder of Catholic youth worker Kevin McDaid, the High Court in Belfast heard yesterday.
A judge was also told up to 30 people left a pub to go on a sectarian rampage through a part of Coleraine, Co Derry, where the victim lived.
It was claimed the crowd launched an orchestrated assault on the area because tricolour flags had been erected.
Details were disclosed as one of the men accused of 49-year-old Mr McDaid’s murder applied for bail.
Christopher McDowell (33), of Glebe Avenue, Coleraine, is among nine people charged in connection with the attack on May 24th.
He is also accused of the attempted murder of another Catholic man, Damien Fleming, who was beaten and seriously injured.
Crown counsel Fiona O’Kane told the court of attempts defuse tensions in the town on the day of the killing, which came after Rangers beat Celtic to claim the Scottish Premier League title.
She said community liaison efforts were made before a crowd left a bar and headed for the Heights.
It was claimed at least one of them was wielding a weapon – possibly a baton or stick.
Witness statements alleged there were chants of “UDA” as the attack was being carried out, the court heard.
The barrister confirmed that since the murder two witnesses have received police warnings that their lives are in danger.
A further three have also claimed to have received direct threats, according to Mrs O’Kane.
During the hearing she said police were continuing with house to house inquiries amid concerns of possible retaliatory attacks.
Defence counsel Martin O’Rourke disputed the murder charge against his client, pointing out that a heart attack appeared to have caused Mr McDaid’s death.
He told the court McDowell was prepared to live at an address in Portstewart under virtual house arrest conditions.
Mr O’Rourke also claimed that any threats issued by others should not be a reason for stopping the accused getting bail.
But Mr Justice Treacy told him: “There are other people out there prepared to intimidate or frighten witnesses or potential witnesses who are not themselves charged.
“They are acting in the interests of those who have been charged.” The judge added: “From the way in which the case was opened by the Crown it appears this was an orchestrated attack on a small, geographically limited Catholic enclave in Coleraine by people who earlier in the day . . . seemed to be fairly intent at some stage in moving towards this Catholic area.
“Notwithstanding that a substantial number of people, the Crown say between 20-30 took it upon themselves to descend upon these Catholic people. The attack itself appears to be orchestrated.” Mr O’Rourke replied that those involved appeared to have spent the day drinking in a local bar.
He added: “It looks like a drunken mob went on the rampage into this Catholic estate principally because, as I understand it, tricolours had been put up by residents in that estate.”
Mr Justice Treacy adjourned the application.