Two are charged with murder

Another two men have been charged with the murder in Antrim on New Year's Day of a father of three

Another two men have been charged with the murder in Antrim on New Year's Day of a father of three. This brings to five the number of men charged with the killing of Mr Denver Smith, who was battered to death.

Police said last night that Mr Stephen Fuller (21), of no fixed address, was remanded in custody after appearing at a special court in Antrim.

Mr Scott Clarke Bradshaw (18), of Devon Square, appeared at a special court at Antrim RUC station. He was also remanded in custody, said a police spokesman.

The new charges came hours after a pipe bomb exploded near the area where Mr Smith was killed.

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Police were called to investigate the blast, in the back garden of a house at Andraid Close in Antrim's loyalist Stiles Estate, yesterday morning.

Nobody was injured, but police are investigating a possible link with the killing of Mr Smith.

A loyalist politician claims tensions in the area have been running high.

Mr Ken Wilkinson of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force, has appealed for calm.

"I am calling on people in this area not to take matters into their own hands. People must leave it up to the police," he said.