THE RUC is questioning 15 people, including three women, arrested in connection with the killing of an off duty RUC officer at the weekend in Co Antrim by a loyalist mob.
It is understood five of the 15 arrested belong to loyalist bands.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, said yesterday that the killing reflected the present sectarianism that was due to the marching season.
Describing the murder as a "terrible event", Mr Hume said: "It is unfortunate that it is arising at a time where there is a lot of hope among people that we are going to achieve a total end to violence."
He added: "Tony Blair has really opened the door to achieving peace.
Const Greg Taylor (41), a father of three, died after the savage attack outside a bar in Ballymoney early on Sunday morning. One of his children suffers from cerebral palsy.
Supt Ken Graham, who visited Ballymoney yesterday, described Mr Taylor as an "excellent officer, who gave exemplary service in Ballymoney for 14 years". He had been in the RUC for 22 years.
Mr Graham said: "But in addition to being an outstanding professional officer, Greg, as a family man and a sportsman, was a highly respected member of the community.
"Const Taylor was kicked mercilessly to death in a totally inexcusable manner. The lawabiding local community are stunned by this barbaric act on the streets of their town," said Mr Graham.
More than 100 customers were in the pub at the time, and police are attempting to trace them all in an attempt to identify the gang who kicked, jumped on and stamped on the officer's head.
They had earlier been abusing him over the RUC ban on loyalist parades through the neighbouring Catholic village of Dunloy.
A second off duty policeman and a friend, who had been with Const Taylor, escaped. All those being questioned yesterday are from the Ballymoney area.
Several belong to a loyalist flute band, some of whose uniformed members had been in the bar.
Meanwhile, a major internal inquiry is going on after it emerged that no RUC officers were on duty in Ballymoney and available when Const Taylor, fearing for his safety, used his mobile telephone, in an effort to seek help.
The nearest patrol car was several miles away.
When he left the bar the crowd knocked him to the ground and started to kick him. At one stage he was attacked by up to 12 men.
The newly appointed Security Minister for Northern Ireland, Mr Adam Ingram, yesterday condemned the murder.
He said there could be no justification for this type of activity by people reacting against the RUC who, he said, were doing their best to try and maintain security and peace.
Mr Ingram said he would be speaking to the Chief Constable about why Mr Taylor was unable to contact colleagues for help.