Funeral of murdered Catholic boy taking place - PSNI criticised
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Wednesday May 17, 2006 13:25
by Ireland.Com & Daily Ireland - Irish Times: www.ireland.com - Daily Ireland: www.dailyireland.com
PSNI attempt to blame "two parties" - Sinn Fein accuse PSNI police chief of providing justification for the murder
Ireland.com breaking news Last updated: 17-05-06, 11:17
The funeral of Catholic schoolboy Michael McIlveen, who died after a sectarian attack, is taking place in Ballymena, Co Antrim.
Extra police have been deployed on the streets of the town for the funeral.
The 15-year-old was assaulted by a gang in the early hours of last Sunday week, after a night out with friends.
As final preparations for the requiem mass were made last night it emerged the Rev Ian Paisley, MP for North Antrim, would not attend.
The DUP leader visited Michael's grieving family at their home in the Dunvale area of the town at the weekend and the family said he would be welcome to attend today's funeral. But it is understood Dr Paisley travelled to London last night ahead of Northern Ireland business in the House of Commons.
St Patrick's College, where Michael was a pupil, is closed to allow its 400 pupils to pay their final respects. The teenager's family and friends are being joined by community leaders and politicians, including Sinn Féin chief negotiator Martin McGuinness.
Catholic and Protestant friends of Michael were expected to wear Celtic and Rangers jerseys as part of a guard of honour in a show of cross-community unity at his funeral.
Michael was chased by a loyalist gang, cornered and attacked with a baseball bat in Garfield Place, moments after buying a takeaway pizza in the early hours of May 7th. He died from his injuries the following day in Antrim Area Hospital.
Six teenagers have since appeared in court charged with the murder, while a seventh has been charged with affray.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Terry Shevlin has expressed concern about retaliation amid reports of dissident republican activity in the town. But on the eve of the funeral, Sinn Fein accused the police chief of providing justification for the murder.
North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan said: "Shevlin has sought to portray the situation in Ballymena as tit-for-tat violence.
"It is nothing of the sort.
"Shevlin is supposed to be the head of the PSNI in the town.
"His job is supposed to be to protect the public, instead he has sought to provide excuses for those who brutally murdered Michael McIlveen last week.
"He is a disgrace."
The PSNI defended its position and said it was committed to combating all sectarian attacks and crime in the area.
[Blaming 'both sides' is the traditional unionist cop-out for sectarianism that is predominantly unionist in origin. See:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/76019]