Published Tuesday, 01 September 2009
Half of those warned by police are witnesses, while the rest include men suspected of involvement in the attack in Coleraine, Co Londonderry, prosecutors revealed.
The scale of the alleged intimidation emerged as one of the men charged with murdering the 49-year-old father of four applied for bail.
James McAfee, 28, is also accused of the attempted murder of another local Catholic man, Damien Fleming, who was beaten and badly injured.
McAfee, a dairy worker from Lisnablagh Road, Coleraine, faces three further charges including an assault on Mr McDaid's wife.
Crown counsel Fiona O'Kane said another woman also alleged he went to hit her with a chair leg and only stopped when she told him she was pregnant.
Mrs O'Kane claimed more than 40 people were involved in the trouble which erupted in May after Rangers beat Celtic to the Scottish Premier League football title.
She said loyalists had left a bar in the town and gone to the nationalist Heights area as part of a dispute over the erection of flags.
Violence flared in the area, with Mr McDaid beaten and fatally injured, according to the prosecution.
Mrs O'Kane added: "The attack on Mr Fleming seems to have consisted in him being stamped and kicked in the face and body as well as being hit by a piece of wood or other weapon of that nature."
Witnesses claim to have seen McAfee - one of 11 people charged in connection with the murder - chanting and urging others on, the court heard.
Opposing his application for bail, Mrs O'Kane said there was a risk of possible interference with the police investigation if he was released.
'Tension'
"In this case, there has been a phenomenal amount of community tension," she stressed.
"This is an active and ongoing investigation and there are still further arrests planned. Given the nature of threats and intimidation that has gone on so far it's been difficult for police at times to ensure witnesses or potential witnesses are open and available to come forward."
Defence barrister Karen Quinlivan pointed out that McAfee was first arrested in June and denied any involvement in the murder.
He had been on police bail and did nothing to compromise the investigation prior to being charged last week, she insisted.
Ms Quinlivan also disputed the strength of the prosecution case, questioning the accounts given by some witnesses.
She added: "There certainly has been intelligence and allegations that people are under death threat, but nothing that connects this applicant with any such contact.
"The applicant has given an account to police and given an innocent explanation."
The barrister also confirmed her client could live at an address outside Coleraine, and that substantial cash sureties could be lodged with the court.
After hearing both sides, Lord Justice Higgins said he would give his ruling on the bail application on Friday.