THE father-of-four beaten to death outside his home in Coleraine nine days ago was the victim of “premeditated evil”, a priest has said.
Fr Charles Keaney told the Requiem Mass for Kevin McDaid that the victim was a good and modest man “who through the 49 years of his life always tried to do what was right and best in everything”.
Mr McDaid, a voluntary community worker, was attacked after the final matches in the Scottish Premier League involving Rangers and Celtic. Mr McDaid’s wife, Evelyn, was injured in the incident along with a pregnant neighbour who tried to help.
Their son Ryan received loyalist death threats within hours of his father’s murder.
Another man, 46-year-old Damian Fleming, remains critically ill in hospital following another attack in the Heights in Coleraine where the McDaids live.
Fr Keaney, the parish priest, told a 400-strong congregation including political leaders and clergy from other churches, that what had happened on May 24th “really was nothing to do with religion”.
“Indeed it was nothing to do with football. It was like something that would happen in the dark ages. It was primitive . . . premeditated evil.” Coleraine was described as “a town bereft of peace”.
Fr Keaney added: “Scratch beneath the veneer of normality and you will find a people weary, with tired hopes, dull love and broken trust. A place where mindless acts of violence and murder can be tolerated or excused even by a minority.”
He warned that unless the prejudices of the past were left behind and efforts were increased to work together “then this could happen again”.
There had to be genuine compassion and justice for all in the community, he said, and respect shown for every man and woman regardless of their religious denomination or political persuasion. “Urgent practical action to end inequality must begin now,” he said.
“We must tackle the root causes of anti-social behaviour. It is time for all of us in this community to be more tolerant, open and involved. We, who believe in God and claim to be followers of Christ, through our words and our actions can lift this shame and senseless suffering once and forever from our midst.”
Fr Keaney said the bereaved family had been moved by the response to the murder and were receiving the “kind of support we all need”.
Among the congregation at St John’s Church in the Killowen area of the town were Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Sinn Féin Assembly member Francie Brolly and party councillor Billy Leonard; SDLP leader Mark Durkan, and his Assembly colleague John Dallat.
Several clergy from Protestant denominations were also present including the Rev Peter Fleming, the Rev David Clarke, the Rev Donard Collins, the Rev Bert Ritchie and the Rev Alan Johnston. Mr McDaid was buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church overlooking the River Bann.