Nine charged with McDaid murder
Nine men have been charged in connection with the murder of Kevin McDaid and attempted murder of Damien Fleming in Coleraine at the weekend.
Six were charged with murder and attempted murder, two with attempted murder and one with affray.
The men were remanded in custody at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday. They all deny the charges.
At the hearing 17 armed police in riot gear ringed over 70 loyalists who filled the public benches.
On the other side of the court, more police provided a human shield around friends and family members of Mr McDaid, including one of his four sons.
The 30-minute hearing passed without incident after District Judge Philip Mateer warned anyone shouting in court would be removed and dealt with.
All accused were remanded in custody to reappear at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court by video link on June 8.
Those accused are:
- David Craig Cochrane, 18, of Windyhill Park, charged with the murder of Mr McDaid and attempted murder.
- His father, David James Cochrane, 47, of Windyhill Park, followed him into the dock accused of causing an affray
- Ivan Beattie McDowell, 42, of Lisnablagh Road was charged with attempted murder.
- John Thompson, 29, of Daneshill Road was charged with murder, attempted murder and assault.
- Frank Simpson Daly, 48, of Rosemary Place was charged with murder, attempted murder and assaulting Evelyn McDaid and Leona Whittaker.
- Christopher McDowell, 33, of Glebe Avenue was charged with murder and attempted murder.
- Aaron Thomas Beech, 23, of Windyhall Park was charged with attempted murder and assault
- Paul Andrew Newman, 40, of Grassmere Close was charged with murder and attempted murder.
- John McGrath, 50, of Hawthorne Place was charged with murder, attempted murder and assaulting Evelyn McDaid.
