Ulster Unionist Party leader Mr David Trimble has apologised to the family of Ciarán Cummings for remarks claiming the boy's killing was drug-related and was carried out by republicans.
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Mr David Trimble
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Mr Trimble said: "The advice I was given was clearly not the picture coming from the police. I wish to withdraw the remarks and apologise for any hurt that may have been given to the family at this tragic time."
Yesterday Mr Trimble said there was "good reason" to suspect republicans were involved in the murder of the 19-year-old Catholic which took place near Antrim town on Wednesday morning.
However, the RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan has said he does not believe republicans were involved.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning Mr Flanagan said: "We are following a number of lines of inquiry, but we do not believe that republicans would be involved in this dreadful murder.
"It is not one of our lines of inquiry at this stage. It would be our belief at this stage that Ciarán was murdered by so-called loyalists."
Mr Trimble's apology was today welcomed by Ms Brid Rodgers, Social Democratic and Labour Party Assembly member for Upper Bann, who had visited Mr Cummings's distraught family.
"They have lost an innocent 19-year-old son and the implications from someone of David Trimble's status that he was involved in wrong-doing was deeply, deeply hurtful," she said.
"I'm glad that Mr Trimble has cleared the air."
Sinn Féin yesterday described the allegation by Mr Trimble as "completely unsubstantiated" and said it was "clearly a sectarian killing".
SDLP Assembly member for the area Mr Donovan McClelland branded Mr Trimble's comments a "disgrace".
Mr Cummings was gunned down by the pillion passenger on a black motorcycle as he waited for a lift to work early on Wednesday. The murder was claimed by dissident loyalist group the Red Hand Defenders.
Detectives investigating the murder were today examining a black motorcycle they found during a search of a garage on the loyalist Ballycraigy Estate in Antrim.
They also found two replica firearms, balaclavas and combat-style clothing.
Additional reporting PA
