Police in Antrim town have yet to rule out a sectarian motive for the killing of a Protestant man as he returned home from New Year celebrations. However, a local loyalist politician said the killing was not sectarian and claimed a criminal gang was responsible.
Several people were being questioned by the RUC last night in connection with the death of Mr Denver Smith (32) from head wounds early on Saturday.
Officers investigating reports that a man was being assaulted at Andraid Close found Mr Smith lying on a green in the Stiles estate shortly before 5 a.m. The victim was admitted to Antrim Area Hospital but was pronounced dead minutes later.
Mr Ken Wilkinson of the Progressive Unionist Party, a friend of the dead man, said the killing "wasn't sectarian. It was a callous and totally sickening murder carried out by criminal elements on a gentle giant of a man. It's appalling that his family or any family should have to cope with a murder so soon into a new year and the new millennium."
Hours before his death, Mr Smith rang in the new year at the Chimney Corner Football Club with friends.
The Ulster Unionist Mayor of Antrim, Mr Paddy Marks, said he was deeply shocked by the incident. "Antrim has not had an incident like this for some time. It comes as a terrible blow when you consider that last night we were waving goodbye to 1999 with a fireworks display and looking forward to a new future."
The Northern Ireland Unionist Party Assembly member, Mr Norman Boyd, urged those with information about the killing to help police. "The people of Antrim will be sick and appalled by this dreadful murder. The perpetrators must be caught, and can have no place in a decent, civilised society," Mr Boyd said.
Meanwhile, a 40-year-old woman remains in a critical condition in hospital with severe chest and arm wounds following a shooting incident in Castledawson, Co Derry, on New Year's Eve.
Her partner, Mr David Rea (55), of Creagh Road in the town, was charged with attempted murder at a special sitting of Limavady Magistrate's Court on Saturday.