SDLP councillor Denise Mullen

A MAN has been arrested close to a controversial banner in Co Tyrone glorifying UVF killer Wesley Somerville.

He was detained Moygashel, near Dungannon, yesterday afternoon.

It is understood a ladder was found close by.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI last night said: “A 64 year old man was arrested in Moygashel earlier to prevent a breach of the peace.”

A similar banner put up in Moygashel last year was later taken down in broad daylight.

It is believed the Somerville banner and other loyalist material were put up in the village earlier this week.

A second banner shows armed and masked members of the UVF.

Relatives of people killed by the UVF have called for the Somerville banner to be removed.

He was killed along with fellow loyalist Harris Boyle as they placed a bomb on a minibus carrying the Miami Showband near Banbridge in Co Down on July 31, 1975.

Other members of the gang then opened fire killing three members and wounding two others.

SDLP councillor Denise Mullen has said the erection of the poster is hurtful to her family.

Her father Denis Mullen (36) was killed by the Glenanne Gang at his home near Moy, Co Tyrone, in September 1975.

Somerville is suspected of being part of a gang that shot Patrick Falls (45) at a pub at Aughamullan, near Coalisland, in November 1974.

His sons Brian and Aidan have described the banner as a “hate crime”.