The funeral is taking place today of a 21-year old Catholic who was beaten to death by a loyalist gang in Co Antrim last week.
James McMahon was cornered and beaten with baseball bats by three masked men who chased him as he walked home from a night out in the city last Thursday. Detectives said Mr McMahon, who had just started a new job with Coca-Cola, was the innocent victim of a sectarian attack by loyalist paramilitaries.
Requiem Mass for Mr McMahon is taking place at St Patrick's Church in Lisburn. He will be buried at the Holy Trinity Cemetary.
Mr McMahon's parish priest, Father Seán Rogan told those gathered today at St Patrick's Church in Lisburn for the funeral that all sides had to stand up against those behind the "sickening" killing. "Because of the sad events of last Thursday evening, perhaps a watershed has been reached for our citizenship," he said.
"Isn't it a time to stand together as brothers and sisters whatever our culture, whatever our creed, to refuse to be accepting of those things which bring disgrace and shame to our community? It will take many floods of water to wash away the stain and the shame of that dark and foul murder of James McMahon."
Auxiliary Diocesan Bishop Anthony Farquhar told the family there had been widespread disgust at the brutal and callous murder. Even though the sectarian killings which blighted Northern Ireland for 30 years have eased off, he added that some still refused to end the bloodshed.
"Some see a glass half empty, some see a glass half full," Bishop Farquhar said. "Today, however, we are starkly reminded that, whatever else, the glass still holds the dregs of bitterness and hatred."