Drive-by shooting: Gunmen are 'demon-possessed' - uncle

Grieving relatives today revealed how a father's mouth-to-mouth bid to save his son's life failed.

Michael Brett ran to the aid of his son Gavin, 18, minutes after he and a Catholic friend were hit by automatic gunfire near his home in Glengormley, Co Antrim.

The dead youth’s uncle, Paul Brett, said: ‘‘Michael rushed in and gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation because he’s a paramedic but it was no use.’’

RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has blamed loyalists for the killing which saw sectarian violence in the province hit dangerous new levels.

Mr Brett’s expertise had led to him being helicoptered in to help deal with the Omagh bomb atrocity which killed 29 people and injured hundreds more.

But today he and his wife Phyllis were left distraught as they tried to comfort their other children, Tara, 17, and 10-year-old Philip.

‘‘They are just devastated,’’ said the murdered teenager’s uncle.

‘‘I would gladly give my life for my daughter and that’s what my brother’s thinking right now.’’

Angrily hitting out at the gunmen he added: ‘‘Michael has helped countless people throughout the troubles regardless of who they are and regardless of what creed they are.

‘‘But these godfathers are demon-possessed and along with the Jezebel mothers who harbour them, they are the ones who are going to pay.’’

Floral tributes were today building up on the High Town Road where the killers struck as Gavin stood with a group of friends.

It emerged today that police had been at the scene just minutes before the shooting occurred.

The other injured youth, named as Michael Farrell, who had just played for north Belfast Irish League soccer club Cliftonville FC at the weekend, had his ankles shattered by the gunfire.

He was rushed to hospital where his condition was today described as stable.

Stunned teenagers in the Hollybrook development where Gavin lived were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

Paul Wilson, 16, described how he ran to the murder scene when he heard gunfire after walking his girlfriend home.

‘‘I came running down and Gavin and Michael were just lying there,’’ he said.

‘‘It took ages for the ambulance to arrive.’’

Angered at seeing his friend murdered, he added: ‘‘He never did anything, he messed about with a crowd of Catholics and they were just the two Protestants in the crowd.’’

Gavin, an avid Glasgow Rangers fan who had just turned 18, was known to his friends as ‘‘Goon’’.

Attending Glengormley High School he had been working in a city centre Burger King restaurant but was preparing for a new job.

Another shocked 16-year-old, Sean Derry, described the dead teenager as his ‘‘best mate’’.

He said: ‘‘I heard three gun shots and rushed out. Someone said ‘Gavin’s dead’ and I just started crying.’’