Ian Paisley will not attend murdered schoolboy’s funeral

THE Rev Ian Paisley will not attend the funeral of a Catholic schoolboy murdered in his North Antrim constituency, it emerged last night.

The DUP leader visited the grieving family of Michael McIlveen in the Dunvale area of Ballymena at the weekend.

But it is understood that the Rev Paisley was travelling to London last night ahead of Northern Ireland business in the House of Commons today.

Extra police have been deployed in the Co Antrim town for fear of reprisals for the brutal sectarian murder earlier this month.

PSNI Chief Superintendent Terry Shevlin has expressed concern about retaliation amid reports of dissident republican activity in the Co Antrim town.

The 15-year-old’s requiem mass is expected to bring Ballymena to a standstill tomorrow.

St Patrick’s College, where Michael was a pupil, will close to allow its 400 pupils to pay their respects.

The teenager’s family and friends will be joined at All Saints Church by community leaders and politicians, including Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness.