About 200 mourners, including a leading Shankill Road loyalist, Mr Johnny Adair, attended the funeral of Mr Andrew Robb yesterday in Portadown, Co Armagh. Mr Robb (19) and another young man were killed in what is believed to be an internal loyalist feud.
Both men were found stabbed to death after leaving a nightclub in Tandragee, Co Armagh, early on Saturday morning. The killings are thought to be linked to a feud between the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Loyalist Volunteer Force.
The UVF had threatened revenge for the murder of a leading Portadown loyalist, Mr Richard Jameson. Mourners gathered yesterday outside the Festival Road home of Mr Robb's grandmother. A private service was held inside.
It was relayed to the crowd through loudspeakers. Several leading Portadown LVF members were among the mourners. Politicians and community activists also attended, including Mr Johnny White of the Ulster Democratic Party, the UDA's political wing; DUP MLA Mr Paul Berry; and UUP MLA Mr George Savage.
The press officer of Portadown District Lodge, Mr David Jones, and Pastor Kenny McClinton were also present. Shania Twain's From This Moment was played at the beginning of the service. The Rev Reggie Twaddell told mourners that no words could convey the sorrow of the Robb family and he appealed for no retaliation.
The funeral of the other murder victim, Mr David McIlwaine (18) from the Laurels in Portadown, will take place today.
A post-mortem examination showed both men had been stabbed several times. A number of people who were being questioned by the RUC about their deaths have been released from custody without charge.
The RUC yesterday renewed its appeal for information about the men's final movements. Detectives believe both victims may have been involved in scuffles in Tandragee. They were last seen alive at around 1.30 a.m. on Saturday.
The men's families have denied they had any paramilitary links and the LVF also said the victims were not its members. Mr McIlwaine's father, Paul, said his son had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"There has been speculation that this was a UVF/LVF feud. My son had no involvement, no links whatsoever, with any paramilitary group." Mr Robb's mother Ann said: "My son had no connection with the paramilitaries or with drugs. I would like the UVF to publicly state that they weren't involved in his killing."
Mr David Ervine of the Progressive Unionist Party, the UVF's political wing, said he did not believe the paramilitary group was involved. The UVF possessed an extensive arsenal and would not have to resort to such "barbarous" methods of killing people, he said.
The family of Mr Richard Jameson said they did not believe the double murder was linked to his death. They visited Mr McIlwaine's home on Sunday night to express their condolences.