'Sickening' video mocks murdered Ballymena schoolboy

It has emerged that a video mocking murdered Catholic schoolboy Michael McIlveen has been circulating via mobile phone in Ballymena, Co Antrim.

The 15-year-old was kicked to death by a loyalist mob in Ballymena last March. Six local young people have been charged in connection with his murder.

On July 11, loyalist bonfires in the area carried Irish tricolours bearing an obscene reference to his death, and now a video mocking the murder is being circulated amongst loyalists in the area.

The UDA has denied involvement in either the murder or the video.

Parish priest Father Paul Symonds said he was “sickened and appalled” by what he said was an evil act carried out by those determined to stoke sectarian tensions.