THE ULSTER Defence Association is intimidating witnesses to the murder of Coleraine man Kevin McDaid, Sinn Féin claims.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said five witnesses to the murder have received threats from the loyalist organisation and that two of them have been visited by the PSNI in connection with their safety.
“I stated before that I was under no doubt that the UDA had issued threats against witnesses to this murder. This view has now been reinforced by the judge in the case who has stated that now five men are under threat and that the attacks . . . were orchestrated,” he said.
“The people of Coleraine know very clearly who was behind the attacks and the murder of Kevin McDaid. It was the UDA and now they are involved in widespread intimidation of witnesses to this murder.”
In a restated criticism of unionist politicians in the constituency, most notably DUP minister Gregory Campbell, Mr McGuinness added: “This intimidation is allowed to continue as long as unionist politicians in the area do not stand up and say ‘enough, go to the UDA and say stop, and stand by the people of Somerset Drive [where Mr McDaid lived] instead of attempting to criminalise this community in order to try and justify this attack’.”
Another man, 46-year-old Damian Fleming, a neighbour of the murder victim, is in a critical condition in hospital after he was attacked on the same evening as Mr McDaid was murdered.
Mrs McDaid has claimed those who killed her husband and injured her were shouting UDA chants as the attacks took place on May 24th.
Evidence concerning the intimidation was heard in the High Court on Friday.