The Ulster Democratic Party leader, Mr Gary McMichael, has rejected accusations that the UDA was involved in the killing of Mr Raymond McCord (22) on the outskirts of Belfast at the weekend.
Police yesterday described the killing as "a brutal attack", saying that Mr McCord had been battered with a heavy object. His body was found in a disused quarry in Newtownabbey on Sunday morning.
The father of the victim said yesterday the family had been subjected to a vendetta by loyalists in recent years, and challenged the paramilitaries to deny involvement.