Family ‘disappointed’ with report findings

The report, released last week by Dr Michael Maguire found no evidence to support concerns that police did not intervene to stop the attack.

Nor did he find evidence that police officers had earlier texted a number of Loyalists in an attempt to inflame tensions in the town.

Sinn Féin’s East Derry candidate Caoimhe Archibald, who met with the McDaid family last week said: “The PSNI were very much aware of heightened tensions involving a UDA gang in the town at that time, and indeed on the very day of Kevin’s killing.

“There is no escaping this fact nor indeed the circumstances of his killing which subsequently saw nine men jailed. After meeting with the McDaid family I understand they are disappointed at these findings. Sinn Féin will continue to support the family in their continuing campaign to get full disclosure about the circumstances of the killing of Kevin.”

SDLP MLA John Dallat added: “I do hope that the Ombudsman’s suggestion that the police might do things differently in the future is taken seriously. I also hope that there isn’t another experience of that kind, and that the good work in community relations done since then is sufficiently robust to ensure that no mob will ever again be in a position to repeat their dastardly action. All communities must be accessible to the police at all times. We all have a responsibility to ensure that there is full co-operation, particularly in times of tension,” he said.