Mrs Evelyn McDaid issued the statement through her solicitor.
It reads: "There has been considerable comment regarding the recent erection of flags at the site where my husband Kevin was killed and the parade which is due to take place on Wednesday 1 July yards from the area where the murder was carried out and where Damien Fleming was seriously injured.

"We continue to mourn the loss of our husband and father. We would ask that the site of his death should not be disrespected or desecrated by anyone; nor should it be used as a monument to, or flashpoint for, sectarianism.

"We express the sincerely held hope that this forthcoming parade passes off peacefully and without incident.
"We are a family drawn from the Protestant and Catholic communities. We have been raised to respect all traditions within our community and would appeal for dignity and calm at this difficult time.
"Our family are hurting. We would request that we are allowed to grieve in peace for our loss and that this is respected.

"We do not desire that any protest should be carried out in our family's name. We make this statement in order to appeal for calm given recent tensions in the area.

"Kevin's murder should not be allowed, or be used as an excuse, to breed further sectarianism or division within our community. "